August 6 Child Care Provider Updates Reminder: Encourage Families to Request their Back-to-School Child Care Authorizations! Do you currently serve families using Wisconsin Shares subsidy? With back-to-school time fast approaching, this is a great time to encourage your families to use the Parent Portal to request their fall child care authorization. Using the MyWIChildCare Parent Portal is a convenient way for your families to request authorizations. Parents can easily schedule an appointment (Milwaukee County only) at a time that works best for them and take care of other tasks related to their authorization! Help us remind your families to use the Parent Portal for a fast and simple authorization process. Here are a few things parents can do in the Parent Portal: View child care authorizations Schedule an appointment for an authorization request (Milwaukee County only) Request a new authorization or make changes to a current authorization Check the balance on their MyWIChildCare EBT card and track payments Sign up to receive a text message alerts on a cell phone when there are new messages in the Parent Portal Track all authorization requests entered in the Parent Portal using the Track My Requests button Please consider posting the Back-to-School child care reminder flyer (Milwaukee County only) where parents will see it or share it in your parent emails or monthly newsletter! Thank you for helping DCF share family-friendly approaches to managing their Wisconsin Shares subsidy. 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. The Wisconsin Poison Center: Who We Are, What We See, and How We Can Help The Early Childhood Health Consultation (ECHC) is hosting a new webinar about The Wisconsin Poison Center and poison prevention strategies. This webinar presentation will highlight common and emerging poisoning exposures, populations at risk, and how to access Poison Center services. Participants will also be introduced to poison prevention strategies and educational materials available through the Wisconsin Poison Center. This event is approved for 1.0 hours of continuing education credit with the Wisconsin Registry. August 6, 2026 | 1 p.m. | Register for the webinar. Listen to other recorded webinars. Virtual I Belong Here! All Children Matter: Supporting Differing Abilities Join 4C for Children’s virtual training to increase your understanding of differing abilities and developmental needs. Virtual | August 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 2026 | 6-9 p.m. Cost: $125 | Register via Registry Event ID #1012759 Questions? Please contact Evy Romoeuf at 414-562-2650. View the class offerings on the 4C For Children Training Catalog. Free Environmental Health Training for Eligible Early Childhood Education Professionals This free training is open to the staff of any current or past child care facility participants of the Lead-in-Water Testing and Remediation Initiative. Earn 0.3 CEUs of health and safety training. Learn how you can improve the quality and safety of the air, water, and soil in your facilities. Get low-cost tips for reducing exposures to environmental hazards like unsafe plastics, pesticides, and lead. To access the course on ProSolutions, or to join the Lead-in-Water Testing and Remediation Initiative, email DHSLeadWTR@dhs.wisconsin.gov . This training was produced and created by the Eco-Healthy Childcare Program of the Children's Environmental Health Network. For more information about the Lead-in-Water Testing and Remediation Initiative visit the DHS website. WFCCA Mini-Conference – August 15 Wisconsin Family Child Care Association (WFCCA) is presenting a one-day mini-conference for all who care for children in the region and across Wisconsin. Sessions include understanding and responding to challenging behaviors, mindfulness and self-regulation strategies for providers, an overview of Wisconsin’s new DCF licensing regulations (including Mandated Reported Training), and an optional First Aid/CPR/AED recertification session. Let’s come together to support each other and grow in our work with children! Saturday, August 15, 2026 | Menomonie, WI Learn more and register for the conference. Virtual: Building Leaders: A Directors Collaborative Some of the best ideas come from talking with people who do the same work you do every day. Join fellow directors for Building Leaders: A Director's Collaborative, a monthly conversation where we share challenges, solutions, and ideas. This month's discussion is focused on creating classrooms that set children up for success. Live session | Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 12:30 – 2 p.m. Register through the Wisconsin Registry | Registration closes on August 20, 2026. Questions? Contact Kimberly Yehle.
