September 3 Child Care Provider Updates Submit Your Get Kids Ready September Payment Application Child care providers determined eligible to participate in Get Kids Ready by DCF must submit Payment Applications for each of four Service Periods they wish to receive payment for. The first Payment Application for the Get Kids Ready 2026-27 school year is now open in the Child Care Provider Portal and will close at 11:59 p.m. on September 20, 2026. This Payment Application covers the Service Period of July – September 2026. During each Payment Application you will be asked to: Confirm or update information from the Program Eligibility Verification Application Verify that Get Kids Ready lead teachers have an associate or bachelor’s degree List all children enrolled in Get Kids Ready who attended at least one day during the applicable payment Count Period Respond to brief survey questions about Get Kids Ready implementation to help DCF understand how the program is being delivered and identify areas for improvement (optional) Child care providers who do not submit their September Payment Application will not receive payment for the months of July, August, and September. Only providers that submitted their Intent to Participate by February 1, 2026 and were found eligible to participate can participate in Get Kids Ready for the 2026-27 school year. Providers will have an opportunity to participate in Get Kids Ready for next school year by submitting their Intent to Participate for 2027-28 when it opens in early 2027. Learn more on the Get Kids Ready webpage for child care providers. Questions? Please submit an inquiry form. 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. WEESSN Child Care Business Coaching: Available to All Regulated Programs As you may know, all regulated programs in Wisconsin are eligible for free expert business coaching through WECA’s shared services network. Learn more about Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN) and WEESSN Plus Coaching. Virtual: Little Connections: Building Routines to Meet the Needs of Infants and Toddlers Routines are a meaningful part of infant and toddler care and can greatly impact a child’s sense of safety, security, and trust. In this interactive session from YoungStar Connect, participants will explore how responsive and respectful routines support development, strengthen relationships, create calmer and more organized environments, and help promote safety. Live session | Friday, September 18, 2026 | 12:30-2 p.m. Register through the Wisconsin Registry | Registration closes on September 17, 2026 Questions? Contact Kimberly Yehle. Free ECHC Webinar Allergies: What Early Childhood Providers Need to Know Allergies are common in early childhood, but it can be hard to tell whether a child's symptoms are caused by allergies or an illness. In this webinar, Dr. Schauberger will explain how allergies develop, how to recognize common symptoms, and how to talk with families about allergy-related concerns. He will also discuss common allergens, treatments, and myths about allergies. Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 1 - 2 p.m. CST This event is approved for 1.0 hours of continuing education credit through the Wisconsin Registry. Registration | English event flyer | Spanish event flyer ECHC is offering live Spanish interpretation for this webinar. Nos complace ofrecer interpretación simultánea al español para este. Also check out the ECHC Podcast “Why do humans love sugar?” Does sugar really "hype kids up"? What can sugar do to a kid's growing body? And how can early childhood educators thoughtfully consider sugar in our kiddos' diet? Rachel and Dr. Navsaria break down all you need to know about sugar, and why. Listen to the Sugar podcast now.
