February 19 Child Care Provider Updates February Child Care Bridge Payments Update Period Closes Soon – Apply Today! Time is running out to complete required updates on your February Child Care Bridge Payments application. The deadline is Sunday, February 22 at 11:59 p.m. How to Apply The Child Care Bridge Payments application is available in the Child Care Provider Portal. If you have not yet applied for Child Care Bridge Payments, see the Application Guide for information about submitting your initial application. Application Resources Update Week Guide – step-by-step instructions for updating and re-submitting your application Submitting Your Child Care Bridge Payments Application Guide – instructions for submitting a new application Uploading Documents to the Child Care Provider Portal Guide Support Center Please send your questions to the Child Care Payments mailbox: DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov and include your name, phone number, provider number, and details of your question in your email. A Support Center specialist will reply as soon as possible. Support Center hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F. Get Kids Ready Estimated Payment Ranges and Participating Child Care Providers Posted On February 13, DCF posted both the estimated per-child payment range along with the list of child care providers who submitted their Intent to Participate. Read Governor Evers' press release. Estimated Per-Child Payment Range DCF has determined the estimated per-child funding range for participation in the 2026-27 school year to be $2,700-$ 7,045. The bottom of the range is based on nearly 1,400 providers submitting their Intent to Participate and indicating a maximum enrollment of nearly 24,000 4-year-olds. However, actual enrollment will likely be lower than the reported number of slots to some degree. Visit the Get Kids Ready webpage for child care providers for more information. Participating Child Care Providers View the publicly posted list of all participating child care providers, contact information, and the number of spaces available. As a reminder, the Program Eligibility Verification Application will be open April 6 – May 15, 2026 and this list will be finalized with verified participating programs by June 2, 2026. For more information on the Program Eligibility Verification Application, visit the Get Kids Ready webpage for child care providers. Grant Opportunity for Nonprofit Child Care Programs The 2021 federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provided funds to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to provide financial assistance to Other-Than Municipal Community (OTM) and nonprofit Non-Transient Non-Community (NN) public water systems with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) (chemicals that do not easily break down in the environment) and manganese as emerging contaminants. This program is known as the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC). NNs are public water systems that are non-residential and regularly serve groups of at least 25 of the same people over six months of the year, which can include, but are not limited to schools and child care centers. Nonprofit child care programs are eligible to apply for this grant 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 PFAS or manganese contamination. See the grant website for complete details on eligibility. The EC-SDC Grant Program application period is currently open, and applications are due by September 30, 2026. If you have any questions regarding eligibility or application submission, please contact DNRECSDCGrants@wisconsin.gov. Additional resources Wisconsin DNR ED-SDC Grant Program Website EC-SDC Grant Announcement EC-SDC Frequently Asked Questions Healthy Environments for Kids: Safekeeping Campaign Looking for tips and resources about chemical safety, indoor air quality, and water quality for your child care center? The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Safekeeping Campaign offers free shareable videos and handouts for early childhood education centers on maintaining environmentally safe and healthy facilities for kids and staff. Visit the Safekeeping Campaign webpage for a full list of resources and reach out to DHSEnvHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov with any questions. Upcoming Events and Education/Training Opportunities The below events are hosted by DCF, one of its partners, or is one that may be relevant to the early childhood field. Click/tap on the titles below to learn more about each event. Parents Place Stepping Stones Seminar A brief introduction to positive caregiving of children with disabilities. Wednesday, February 25| Virtual | 5:30 - 7 p.m. For more information and to register visit the Parents Place website Questions? Contact Ann-Marie St John at 262-549-5575 or astjohn@parentsplacewi.org 2026 Early Childhood Conference: Lyrics and Learning The 2026 Early Childhood Conference, Lyrics and Learning: Harmonizing Language, Literacy & Learning for Little Learners, will be held at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and brings together early childhood professionals for a day of engaging, hands-on learning. February 28, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Visit wisconsinchild.org for details. | Register online. Questions? Contact Northwest Connection Family Resources at 715-634-2299. CCR&R Annual Conference – Be Amazing: From Stressed to Joyful Gain the essential tools to prioritize your well-being, live inspired, and truly thrive while making your most amazing contributions to others! March 28, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 3p.m. | Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. Register before March 1 for the early bird cost of only $40! Conference flyer | Register online Visit Child Care Resource and Referral's website for more information. A 5K Transition Roadmap: Building Strong Starts for Every Child Navigating the transition to kindergarten can be complex. Join EL-TAI for an interactive virtual learning experience where we share research-based strategies and program success stories. Explore a "Roadmap" for intentional kindergarten transitions for all students. Who: School District staff, child care, and Head Start staff. If you support preschoolers in their journey to kindergarten, this is for you. Virtual | April 21, 2026 | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Free to attend See event flyer | Register today! In-Person Face-to-Face Group Learning Experience: Supporting Autism in Early Childhood Settings This full-day group learning experience combines training and coaching designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in early childhood settings. In-person at Childcaring (Mosinee, WI) | May 2, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register at the Wisconsin Registry. | Registration closes on April 22, 2026 Questions? Contact Anna Barthen at abarthen@youngstarconnect.com
