September 29 Child Care Provider Updates Update Your Child Care Counts Application This Week September 26 – October 5 is the September Update/Application Week. Prepare to update your child attendance and staff records and upload any needed documentation for the Count Weeks of September 11-24 so you don’t miss out on any funding. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. Update Week Reminders Were approved for August funds? If yes, you must update and re-submit your application before October 5. Is your application in “Review Needed” status? If yes, you still must update and re-submit your application before October 5. Review the Update Guide and Update Video for step-by-step instructions on updating and re-submitting your application during Update Week. Spending Deadline Reminder All Stabilization Payment Program Funds must be spent within 120 days of the payment letter date. The spending deadline for May 2022 funds is October 8, 2022. Questions? We’re here to help. Email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and leave your detailed questions at 608-535-3650. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), too. Child Care Counts Información en español. Inclusive Birth to 3 Child Care Pilot to Expand Statewide in October The Inclusive Birth to 3 Child Care Pilot is a new DCF program to support the cost of child care for a limited number of children participating in the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) Birth to 3 Program. This initiative is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The funding is time-limited.. This program is not part of the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program and has different qualification requirements. Authorizations began being issued in Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, and Rock counties in August 2022. On October 1, 2022, the program will expand statewide. Each child may receive an authorization for up to 12 months. No new children will be authorized after June 30, 2023. Since the program’s initial launch, we’ve received several questions about eligibility and how families should enroll in the program. We have more information on this below. How do families enroll a child in the program? Only children under the age of 3 who are already enrolled in DHS’ Birth to 3 Program with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) on file before July 1, 2022, are eligible. Families will get a letter from the Birth to 3 Program. This letter will give families the option to participate in this pilot program. Families who do not meet the criteria outlined cannot call or apply to enroll in this pilot. You can view the full enrollment process on the DCF website. Adult Anger Series Join us for a 3-session online series on Adult Anger. Explore common causes of anger, learn how to manage your emotions, and find techniques that will help you control your actions before they hurt someone or yourself. Sessions are being held on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., September 27, October 4 and 11. Register online for the series. Questions? Contact the Parent Place, Ann-Marie St. John, Education Coordinator, at 262-549-5575, ext. 244. School-Age Child Care Foundational Courses The Wisconsin Afterschool Network, in partnership with DCF, is offering free Foundational School-Age Child Care Trainings that make up the Alternative Pathway to become lead qualified in a licensed school age program. These courses are specifically designed to provide staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively with school-age children and youth in out-of-school-time programs. This exciting professional development opportunity provides readily available training to support new school-age care professionals and address the workforce shortage. The School-Age Foundational Training courses cover the following non-credit trainings delivered in an interactive online format: Introduction to the School-Age Child Care Profession Guiding Children’s Behavior in Afterschool Programs School-Age Curricular Framework For more information, including how to find and register for all School-Age specific courses, see the UW-Stevens Point Continuing Education and Outreach webpage. If you have questions, please email neve.randy@marshfieldclinic.org. View the Course Calendar. Reminder: Child Tax Credit Available – Share with Families As part of The American Rescue Plan, nearly every family can get the expanded Child Tax Credit. Each qualifying household is eligible to get up to $3,600 for each child under 6 years old, and $3,000 for each child between 6 and 17 years old. To ensure all eligible families will receive the expanded CTC, providers and agencies can assist families who do not typically file taxes by connecting them to the IRS’s simplified Non-filer portal. The portal is mobile-friendly, available in English and Spanish, requires no tax documents, and can be used as an alternative to the IRS Non-Filer Sign-Up tool. Families can get this money even if they have low income or no income, or have never filed taxes before or have not filed in the last few years. To claim the credit, visit GetCTC.org by November 15, 2022, and follow the steps to complete a simplified tax return.
