April 16 Child Care Provider Updates Tuesday Talks with DECE is Today Come join us today, April 16 at 1:30 p.m. for our Tuesday Talks on licensed day camp providers! We will discuss various requirements for day camps before they are set to open for the 2024 season, such as background checks, pre-season trainings, and tips and tricks for compliance. Registration is not required for these events. Tuesday Talks with DECE is held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. 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. Get Ready for the April Child Care Counts Update Period This week (April 14-27) is Count Week for the April Child Care Counts (CCC). Do a little spring cleaning and organize your child and staff records to get ready for the April 27 – May 5 Update Week! See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Update Weeks. Reminder: Participate in the YoungStar Analysis and Update Project The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is doing an analysis and update of YoungStar, Wisconsin’s child care quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). Our goal is to make YoungStar a more effective tool for setting meaningful expectations for child care quality, communicating information about child care quality to parents and caregivers, and supporting child care programs to meet quality expectations. Read more about the project. Register to attend one of the upcoming listening sessions. Thursday, May 2 from 6-8 p.m. at TenderCare Christian Child Care Center. Read the flyer for details.Registration is required. Register to attend. Tuesday, May 7 from 6-8 p.m. at La Causa Charter School. This program will be in Spanish and English.Read the flyer for details.Registration is required. Register to attend. NEW - Wednesday, May 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Marathon County Public Library. Read the flyer for details.Registration is required. Register to attend. Our next listening session will be in Green Bay. Stay tuned for more information on these and more listening sessions across the state. Take our survey for parents and caregivers, providers, educators, and child care stakeholders. DCF is Hiring The Division of Early Care and Education, Bureau of Early Care Regulation, is currently recruiting to fill a Bilingual Licensing/Certification Specialist position. Bilingual Licensing/Certification Specialist – This position is assigned to monitor English and Spanish speaking child care programs, recommends and participates in taking enforcement actions, investigates complaints against illegally operating programs and licensed programs as assigned, and provides technical assistance to individuals or groups involved in childcare programs. This position is located in Milwaukee. The deadline to apply for this position has been extended to April 21, 2024. View all open DCF positions at Wisc.Jobs. Register for Live Training from YoungStar Connect YoungStar Connect has several live, free virtual training events coming up this spring! Here is the first training topic: Four-Step Approach to Difficult Conversations with Families The four-step approach offers strategies for promoting positive interactions with families that are collaborative, supportive, and focus on problem-solving. April 30, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. orMay 14, 2024, from 1-3 p.m. Take a look at YoungStar Connect's live training calendar to see all available options. WFCCA Conference May 2-4 Join the Wisconsin Family Child Care Association (WFCCA) for an exciting family child care conference featuring high quality educational presentations, dynamic workshops, and professional networking opportunities - specifically geared toward family child care providers like you! Whether you are a family child care provider or working in a group center, new to the filed or have years of experience this conference is for you! May 2-4 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin DellsRegister to attend. Virtual Behavioral Health Learning Series – April 24 Join the Wisconsin Afterschool Network for the final 2023-24 school-year Behavioral Health Learning Series presentation, Working with Gender Diverse Youth: A Primer on Gender Affirmation and Important Topic Considerations. This free presentation with Dr. Diestelmann will provide an overview of engagement considerations for adults working with transgender and gender diverse youth in afterschool or out-of-school time programming. April 24 – 11:30 a.m.Register for the Zoom meeting. Questions? Email wisconsinafterschoolnetwork@marshfieldclinic.org
