June 5 Child Care Provider Updates

The Child Care Counts Program Ends June 2025

The final Application/Update week is June 21-29, 2025.

As previously stated, the Child Care Counts program will end in June, with your last payment being July 11, 2025.

To date, the Child Care Counts program has been funded via federal dollars. That funding source is no longer available.

Governor Evers has been a strong supporter of the program and has proposed over $400 million in state funding in the biennial budget to continue it; however, the Legislature must approve that investment, which they have historically not approved. The exact timing of the final biennial budget is unknown but is expected to be finalized in the summer.

It is critical, perhaps now more than ever, that you continue to share your story over the coming days. Whether that be with elected officials, the families you serve, or your community, your voice matters to help generate support for meaningful legislation and funding.

We will communicate pertinent state budget updates on the Child Care Counts webpage and via the Child Care Provider listserv email.

May Child Care Counts Closes Soon – Apply Today!

Time is running out to complete required updates on your May Child Care Counts application. The deadline is Sunday, June 8 at 11:59 p.m.

Update/Application Week Reminders

If you need assistance, please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and speak with a Support Center Specialist at 608-535-3650, M-F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

DCF Wants to Hear From You – Challenging Behavior Listening Sessions

DCF is seeking to understand experiences and views related to supporting children’s social and emotional development and navigating challenging behavior in early learning settings. Your feedback and perspectives will help shape a guidance document for child care programs, intended to provide definitions for exclusionary practices, as well as resources and strategies to support both providers and children. This guidance will not be a new regulation or requirement. DCF is holding four listening sessions and invites you to participate.

Listening sessions are virtual and 60 minutes in length. Each session is the same, so please sign up for only one. DCF is holding one session in Spanish. Join us and share your experiences around caring for children displaying challenging behavior in early learning settings.

DCF is Hiring for a Northern Licensing/Certification Specialist

Are you passionate about supporting the health, safety, and quality care for young children? If you're an experienced child care teacher or early care educator looking to expand your impact beyond the classroom, consider joining our team as a Child Care Licensing Specialist with the Bureau of Early Care Regulation. Professional experience in the early care and education setting is a requirement of this position.

The Division of Early Care and Education (DECE), Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR), is currently recruiting to fill a Licensing/Certification Specialist position in Northern Region headquartered in Rhinelander, WI. (2187 N. Stevens St)

While this position is headquartered in Rhinelander, WI, it is comprised primarily of field work requiring on-site, in-person visits approximately 3-4 days per week. Successful candidates must have the ability to travel anywhere within the region at any time, based on the needs of the work unit. Remote work options will be discussed further during the interview. The deadline to apply  of Thursday, June 12, 2025. Learn more about this position on Wisc.Jobs.

Reminder: MECA Offering Extended Telephone Appointment Hours Through June 20

The Milwaukee Early Care Administration (MECA) is offering additional morning and evening telephone appointment slots for Milwaukee County families seeking summer child care authorizations. The additional telephone appointment time slots are Monday – Thursday 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.; and Fridays 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 5 p.m. through June 20. Log in to the Parent Portal to request an appointment.

Attn: Milwaukee County providers: please share this information with your families and encourage them to request their summer child care authorizations immediately!

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.

  • “Road to Success” Training Program to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Workforce to Begin Second Round
    • Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R), in collaboration with Forward Service and the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board has launched the second round of the Road to Success Program, a 13-week training series from June 10 - September 10, designed to meet the educational requirements to be a lead teacher or family child care provider. Classes will be a mix of virtual and in-person at the CCR&R Kimberly office. Spanish interpretation is not available.
    • Tuesday classes | 1-4:30 m.
    • Thursday classes | 5-8:30 m.
    • Saturday workshops | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
    • Participants may be eligible for assistance to meet technology or transportation needs during classes.
    • Contact Forward Service at 920-278-9264 or foxvalleywioa@fsc-corp.org to see if you qualify for this free early childhood education training program! Registration ends June Learn more about the program.
       
  • Virtual: Keeping Children Safe: Supervision, Tracking, and Follow Through
    • Keeping children safe is a top priority for all educators. In this training, providers will learn how to describe and apply active supervision strategies and systems to keep children safe and accounted for in their programs. Spanish interpretation is not available.
    • Live sessions on June 17 | 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Register at the Wisconsin Registry. Registration closes on June 17, 2025.
    • Questions? Contact Mary Niec at mniec@youngstarconnect.com
       
  • Teachers, Toddlers & Tissues podcast, Episode 27: “Go to Sleep!”
    • Nothing beats a good night's sleep, but how kids fall asleep and the quality of that sleep is what matters most. Experts from the Early Childhood Health Consultation (ECHC) team share the basics of sleep hygiene: how much sleep kids need to stay healthy, what a healthy bedtime routine looks like, and how to keep kids safe when you put them to bed.
    • Listen to the Go to Sleep podcast.
    • Catch up on other ECHC podcasts today!