July 31 Child Care Provider Updates July Child Care Bridge Payments Application Period Closes Soon – Apply Today! Time is running out to complete required updates on your July Child Care Bridge Payments application. The deadline is Sunday, August 3 at 11:59 p.m. How to Apply The Child Care Bridge Payments application is available in the Child Care Provider Portal. All providers must: Submit a new initial application If you applied for a past round of Child Care Counts, some of your information will be copied to this new application. Please be sure to review any information that is copied over and update all new information as required. Your new initial application can be submitted in the first month, or during any future application month through June 2026. See the Application Guide for instructions. Upload verification documents This includes child and staff records. See the Upload Guide for instructions. Application Notes The Child Care Bridge Payments application in the Provider Portal is similar to the past Child Care Counts applications. You will see the same pages and questions in the application. However, some of the labels will look a little different – for example, to enter the application you will click on Bridge Payments (rather than COVID-19 Payments). Accessing past Child Care Counts applications If you need to view past applications or upload verification documents for an audit of previous rounds, you can access past Child Care Counts applications by clicking on the Bridge Payments button on the Home screen, then click More and then select Payment Application History. July 2025 Important Dates Count Weeks: July 13 – July 26, 2025 Application Period: July 26 – August 3, 2025 Payment Letter Date: August 15, 2025 Visit the Child Care Bridge Payments webpage and view the Terms and Conditions for details. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Child Care Payments Support Center via 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. When contacting the Support Center, please include your name, facility name, provider number, and detailed question. Biennial Budget Implementation Information We are working to provide information about implementation of the child care provisions of the 2025-27 Biennial Budget as quickly as possible. Going forward, we will provide updates in this listserv and on the department’s Early Care and Education Biennial Budget webpage. Here is updated information on the status of the regulation change items in the budget. Assistant child care teachers: 16-year-olds may serve as assistant teachers under the supervision of child care teachers in group child care programs. This change to statute is currently in effect and we will update DCF 251 in the future to reflect the changes.There are several related items that will still need to be implemented which we will share information as we have it.Please note: How the biennial budget change to assistant teacher requirements applies to certified child care programs and day camps is still under review. Group child care ratios: Group programs may begin to implement new pilot ratios of 1:7 for children 18-30 months now, if they meet other applicable administrative rules (e.g., space requirements, equipment and furnishings, licensed capacity, etc.). Each program should review their space letters to determine if they can accommodate more children. Space letters are either on file at the center or can be accessed in the historical documents on the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP). If programs want to increase their licensed capacity, submit a written/emailed request to your licensing specialist and follow standard procedures. If programs want to change room usage or switch rooms to accommodate more children, report it to your licensing specialist 20 working days prior, receive approval, and follow standard procedures. The pilot funding for infants and toddlers with Wisconsin Shares authorizations associated with the ratio changes is not yet implemented. More information will be forthcoming. The ratios for certified and licensed family child care programs remain the same. Large family child care: Providers must still operate within their current licensed capacity until new guidelines are developed. For more details regarding the changes and Frequently Asked Questions, please visit the department’s Early Care and Education Biennial Budget webpage. We will continue to share more information as our implementation plans take shape. Wisconsin Shares Program Integrity Training for Providers We’ve updated the Wisconsin Shares program integrity training for Wisconsin child care providers! Watch the Wisconsin Shares program integrity training video or download the Provider Program Integrity Training booklet (DCF-P-5484) to access helpful resources. See the Wisconsin Shares Provider webpage for links to all trainings, frequently asked questions, and much more! For questions about Wisconsin Shares policies, please contact your local agency. Family Resource Centers Help Strengthen Families Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are welcoming hubs of services and opportunities designed to strengthen families by responding to the specific needs, cultures, and interests of caregivers within the communities and populations they serve. While FRCs serve families with children of all ages, they often focus on prenatal to age 5, providing activities and programs at no or low cost. Please help raise awareness of the benefits of Family Resource Centers among child care staff so they can confidently refer families. Find your local FRC. 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. Free webinar: “Little Children, Big Defenses: How the Immune System Works” As an early childhood care provider, you know that children get sick…a lot! This is both a frustrating and normal part of childhood. In this Early Childhood Health Consultation (ECHC) webinar, you will learn the difference between general and specific immunity, how a child’s immune system develops in the first five years of life, and how to reduce risk of infection and support the immune system within your program. ECHC is pleased to offer live Spanish interpretation for this webinar. Thursday, August 7 | 1- p.m. | Register for webinar Approved for 1.0 hours of continuing education credit through the Wisconsin Registry. Virtual: Enhancing Family Engagement in Early Childhood Family engagement is an essential part of early childhood education. Training participants will learn effective strategies to encourage family participation, problem solve barriers to participation, ways to learn about and celebrate family strengths, interests, and culture, and create engagement opportunities that are mindful of varied family needs and interests. Live session | August 12 | 6-7:30 p.m. Register at the Wisconsin Registry. | Registration closes on August 9, 2025 Questions? Contact Jessica Bowden jbowden@youngstarconnect.com. Wisconsin Family Child Care Association Mini Conference Register now for a one-day Wisconsin Family Child Care Association (WFCCA) mini conference at Holtby Hall at the Dunn County Historical Society in Menomonie, WI. Join us to experience Protect Child-Directed Play, Play is Learning, and Professional Mindfulness sessions. Spanish interpretation is not available. Saturday, August 16 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Register today!
