June 11 Child Care Provider Updates Get Kids Ready: Updated Estimated Per-Child Payment Range After the close of the Get Kids Ready Program Eligibility Verification Application, DCF has determined the estimated per-child funding range for participation in the 2026-27 school year to be $3,600-$ 7,045. The bottom of the range is based on close to 900 providers submitting their Program Eligibility Verification Application and a maximum enrollment of nearly 18,000 4-year-olds. However, payment amounts will be based on actual enrollment reported during each Payment Application, which will likely be lower than the reported number of slots to some degree. For more information, visit the Get Kids Ready webpage for child care providers. Summer Camp Measles Reminders The U.S. has been experiencing a surge in measles cases in the last two years, with many outbreaks occurring in communities with low vaccination rates. Since January 1, 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has reported 38 measles cases in our state. As measles continues to spread in the U.S., the risk of travel-associated cases continues to be a public health concern. Measles can spread quickly in summer camps because campers and staff spend a lot of time together in close contact with each other. Being prepared to respond to measles cases in your camp can help keep your campers healthy and safe. If there is a confirmed case of a communicable disease in a child enrolled at a regulated child care program, it must be reported to DCF and your local health department within 24 hours after the program has been notified of the diagnosis. Other Resources A list of contact information for local and Tribal health departments. DHS measles webpage Flyer on measles symptoms and how it spreads Measles Fact Sheet more detailed flyer on measles symptoms and prevention Should I get a measles booster? Information on making sure you are up to date on measles vaccine. Measles can very easily spread from person to person flyer Communicable Diseases and Outbreaks: Summer Camps Preparing and Responding to Measles: Checklist for Summer Camps Tuesday Talks – May Recording Now Available and Join Us in June Did you miss the May Tuesday Talks with DECE? The recording for the May talk, which covered Child Care Foundational Training updates and Day Camps Refresher, is now available in the May 19, 2026 accordion on the Tuesday Talks with DECE Recordings webpage. This is where you can access all the resource links shared during the Talk as well. Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next webinar is Tuesday, June 16 at 1:30 p.m. and we will hear from Department of Health Services (DHS) for some Radon reminders for child care programs as well as continue our Licensing Back to Basics series with Child Care in the Summer. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and calendar invitation for the 2026 Tuesday Talks series. June Child Care Bridge Payments Count Weeks The June Count Weeks are June 7-20, 2026. Start organizing your records now so you are ready for the final update/application week. You must review and update your application every month. The final update/application period is June 20-28, 2026. 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. DCF is Hiring for a Southeastern 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. The Division of Early Care and Education (DECE), Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR), is currently recruiting to fill two (2) Licensing/Certification Specialist positions in the Southeastern Region headquartered in Milwaukee, WI (635 N. 26th Street). While this position is headquartered in Milwaukee, 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; DCF has fleet vehicles available for use for required travel. Hybrid work options will be discussed further during the interview. Come see why DCF is such a great place to work! The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 18, 2026. Learn more about this position on Wisc.Jobs. Reminder: Large Family Child Care Checklist is Now Live! The Biennial Budget, 2025 Wisconsin Act 15, increased the capacity of licensed family child care programs to provide care and supervision for up to 12 children. The Department of Children and Families revised DCF 250, Administrative Rules for Licensed Family Child Care Centers to allow family child care programs to safely care for up to 12 children. These rules will go into effect on August 1, 2026. To help current family child care providers determine if they would be interested in increasing licensing capacity, DCF created a voluntary Large Family Child Care Checklist with key topics family providers need to consider before requesting an increase in licensed capacity. Please reach out to your assigned licensing specialist if you have any questions. The Large Family Child Care Checklist is available through the Child Care Licensing Forms & Publications webpage. As a reminder, licensed family providers cannot increase their capacity above eight children until August 1 and until their licensing specialist has approved the increase. 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. Little Connections: Embedding Respectful and Responsive Care into Infant and Toddler Routines This training is designed for child providers, focusing on fostering a child’s inner drive to learn through respectful and responsive caregiving practices. It introduces the Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) method, emphasizing the importance of treating children with respect, communicating clearly, and responding to their cues. Live session | June 17, 2026 | 12:30-2:30 p.m. Register through the Wisconsin Registry | Registration closes June 15, 2026 Questions? Contact Kim Yehle at kyehle@youngstarconnect.com.
