January 16 Child Care Provider Updates

Tuesday Talks – Tune in Today and Catch Up if You Missed December      

Did you miss the December Tuesday Talks with DECE? The link to the December 19 talk on Child Care Counts Round 3 and the Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN) Educator is now available in the December 19, 2023 accordion on the Tuesday Talks with DECE Recordings webpage.

Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next webinar is Today, January 16 at 1:30 p.m. and we will discuss Child Care Counts, DCF 2024 Preview, and the Wisconsin Registry. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and learn about future topics.

Learn more about Tuesday Talks on the DCF website. Información de las charlas del martes en español.

Child Care Counts Rounds 4 and 5 Payment Levels

We understand that providers are eager to learn about payment amounts for Child Care Counts Rounds 4 (February 2024 - June 2024) and 5 (July 2024 – June 2025). As with previous rounds, we will not know exact payment amounts until after applications are submitted, but we want to provide as much information as we can at this point.

The Child Care Counts program was set to end this month until Governor Evers directed $170 million in emergency funding to continue the program. The governor’s action means we have about $10 million available per month through June 2025. To put this in context, we had about $12 million available for each month of Round 3 (May 2023 – January 2024) as we were able to move about $2 million per month of federal underspend from other programs into Child Care Counts. Federal deadlines no longer allow us to move underspend. Therefore, we estimate that beginning with the first Round 4 payment on March 8, 2024, payment amounts will be about 80% of what they have been in Round 3. Actual payment amounts will vary depending on each provider’s program characteristics. See the Round 4 webpage for more information.

Join Us for Tuesday Talks at 1:30 p.m. Today

Attend today’s Tuesday Talks at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom, to learn more about Child Care Counts funding and what payments will look like in Round 4. You’ll also learn about Round 4 important date changes, upcoming DCF initiatives, and hear from the Wisconsin Registry about important changes to program profile requirements.

If you need assistance, please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and speak with a Support Center Specialist at 608-535-3650.

Child Care Counts Información en español.

Pre-Licensing Technical Assistance Transition

DCF requires potential licensed family and group providers to complete the pre-licensing technical assistance process before applying for a license. This process includes free pre-licensing technical assistance and support for potential providers to prepare for submission of the licensing application. Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA), in partnership with the local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies, has administered this process for the last several years.

In 2023, DCF issued a Request for Proposal for the administration of the pre-licensing technical assistance program, as part of the normal contracting cycle. Following extensive evaluation of proposals, DCF has awarded two new vendors to take over the pre-licensing technical assistance program to serve potential new providers in each of DCF’s licensing regions.

The transition will take place over the next two months. SFTA and the CCR&Rs will send out direct communication for those currently in the pre-licensing process.

More information about becoming licensed and the pre-licensing technical assistance process can be found on our Starting a Licensed Child Care webpage.

January is Radon Action Month!

January is National Radon Action Month (NRAM) as declared by Governor Tony Evers and observed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Any home or building can be susceptible to radon. This month is an opportunity to increase radon awareness across the state to encourage preventative action.

Licensed family and group child care centers are required to test for radon every two years for residential buildings and every five years for commercial buildings. During NRAM, individuals are eligible to purchase reduced-cost test kits through Radon Information Centers (RIC) in Wisconsin. Find your RIC here:  Wisconsin Radon Information Centers.

As a reminder, continuous radon detection monitors do not meet the licensing requirement for testing for radon. The only way to ensure that a continuous detection monitor is still working properly is through regular testing. If you have questions regarding testing requirements for licensed child care programs, please contact your assigned Licensing Specialist.

Radon Information Resources

Apply for Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant (EC-SDC)

Nonprofit child care programs are eligible to apply for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’  Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant (EC-SDC). Providers are eligible if the licensee owns a nonprofit program that serves at least 25 of the same people for over six months of the year, uses a public water system that serves a community that has a population less than 10,000 people, and has a per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or manganese contamination. Projects must include actions to address the contamination, which can include but are not limited to project planning and design, technical assistance, and construction or treatment to address contamination.

The EC-SDC Grant Program application period will open on January 16, 2024. See the EC-SDC flyer for additional details. If you have any questions regarding eligibility or application submission, please contact DNRECSDCGrants@wisconsin.gov.