June 19 Child Care Provider Updates Reminder: Child Care Counts Program Ends June 2025 As previously stated, the Child Care Counts program will end in June, with the 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. 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. Measles Reminders Childhood diseases like measles can cause children pain and discomfort, which can lead to hospitalizations and even death. Immunization against measles is the best way to protect young children from serious diseases. Most people who contract measles are unvaccinated. Symptoms of measles include: Fever Runny nose Dry cough Red rash with raised bumps Individuals are contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears. However, some immunocompromised individuals may not develop a rash. Measles spreads through: Air on droplets of saliva Infected person coughing or sneezing Measles is a communicable disease. If there is a confirmed case of a communicable disease in a child enrolled at a regulated child care center, it must be reported to DCF and your local health department within 24 hours after the center has been notified of the diagnosis. All certified and licensed child care centers must maintain a current written record of each child enrolled at the center. This includes documentation that indicates the child’s immunization history complies with Wis. Stat. §252.04 – Immunization Program. Note: Head Start programs must obtain determinations from health care professionals that a child is up to date on immunization recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you have any questions regarding immunization documentation, contact your assigned Certification Worker or Licensing Specialist. Additional Measles Information Resources Immunizations: Get the Facts About Vaccines | Wisconsin Department of Health Services Immunizations: Measles – Wisconsin Department of Health Services Early Childhood Health Consultation Program WI Department of Health Services Child Care Immunization Record (will meet licensing requirements for immunization documentation) – DHS-F-44192 Wisconsin Childhood Communicable Disease Chart – Wisconsin Department of Health Services Head Start 1302.42 Child health status and care Get Ready for the June Child Care Counts Update Period The final update/application period is June 21-29. Organize your records now so you are ready for the final Child Care Counts update/application week. 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. Ensure Your Child Care Provider Portal Staff Information is Accurate Child care providers are reminded to regularly update their program’s information in the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP) to ensure the individuals listed include only current or prospective employees or household members. Note: Removing individuals from the Registry classroom staff does not remove them from the CCPP. Individuals need to be updated in both places. DCF conducts ongoing compliance monitoring based on information entered in the Provider Portal, so accuracy is important. For more information about updating your CCPP account, review the Child Care Provider Portal Tip Sheet. If you have questions, please contact your licensing or certification specialist. You can also contact the Child Care Background Unit by email at DCFPlicBECRCBU@wisconsin.gov or by calling 608-422-7400. Reminder: MECA Offering Extended Telephone Appointment Hours Through Tomorrow 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! Reminder: 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. Thursday, June 19 | 1-2 p.m. | Register Tuesday, June 24 | 6-7 p.m. | Register Thursday, June 26 | 1-2 p.m. (Spanish) | To register for this session, please email DCFDECEChildBehaviors@wisconsin.gov, and a link will be sent to you. 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. Quality Conversations: YoungStar Connect Office Hours: Wisconsin Registry Program Profiles presented in Spanish The next Wisconsin Registry led YoungStar Quality Conversations will only be offered in Spanish! Gina will be hosting the virtual event on Monday, June 30! This session explores optimizing your program profile. We'll guide you through key features of the Registry, helping you understand how to manage and update your profile for greater visibility and alignment with state standards. Registration closes Friday, June 27. Sign up today! Webinar: Enhancing Family Engagement in Early Childhood Family engagement is an essential part of early childhood education. This training can equip early childhood educators with the knowledge and skills to enhance family engagement in their programs. Spanish interpretation is not available. Live sessions July 9 | 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register and learn more at the Wisconsin Registry. | Registration closes on July 7, 2025 Questions? Contact Jess Bowden at jbowden@youngstarconnect.com. 2025 Statewide Out of School Time Conference, Innovative Approaches: Enhancing OST Program Quality In person | October 29-30 | Hilton Paper Valley in Appleton, WI Virtual | November 7 | via Zoom For more information visit the Conference Landing Page Spanish interpretation is not available. The conference planning committee is accepting proposals for 60-minute workshops for the 2025 Out of School Time Conference. You can submit for either the in-person conference or virtual conference (for frontline staff). Proposal deadline is July 21, 2025. Submit a Proposal. Questions? Contact WOSTA at wosta@marshfieldclinic.org.
