October 29 Child Care Provider Updates Chemical Safety Reminders! Handling chemicals safely is important for health. Never mix cleaning products together and always read product labels. When you mix cleaners like bleach with ammonia, harmful chloramine gas can be created. Chloramine is harmful and can cause irritation to skin, eyes, nose, and lungs. If you mix bleach and alcohol-based cleaners (like Fabuloso) together when cleaning, chloroform can be created. Chloroform is harmful and can lead to short-term health effects like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Never mix chemicals together and consider deep cleaning after hours when children are not present. Visit Department of Health Services’ Safekeeping Campaign webpage for free training resources on safe chemical handling and use. Reach out to DHSEnvHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov with any questions! Create Your MyWisconsin ID Today! In late 2026, providers who have a Child Care Provider Portal account(s) will need a MyWisconsin ID to access the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP). The most important action for you to take right now is to create your new MyWisconsin ID so you are ready when the login changes take effect later this fall. No other steps need to be taken at this time. NOTE: Each person at your facility who accesses the Child Care Provider Portal will need their own unique MyWisconsin ID to continue accessing the Child Care Provider Portal. DCF will continue to provide additional instructions in future listserv messages. You will also receive a letter in the mail with complete details about the login changes to the Child Care Provider Portal. What Do I Need to Do for Child Care Provider Portal? If you already have a MyWisconsin ID, you are all set. Use that ID to login and access the Child Care Provider Portal starting in late 2026. If you do not have a MyWisconsin ID, you must create a new account to login and access the Child Care Provider Portal starting in late 2026. Go to the MyWisconsin ID webpage, and click on the Sign Up link. View the MyWisconsin ID Create an Account webpage for step-by-step instructions on creating a MyWisconsin ID. Watch for a future training video for instructions to link your Provider Portal account to your MyWisconsin ID. DCF encourages all providers using the Child Care Provider Portal to create their MyWisconsin ID right away. Be sure to save your password! Reminder: Beware of Fake Emails Requesting Information Verification Recently, it was reported to DCF that some Wisconsin child care providers have been receiving fake/spam emails again that request personal information verification. Remember, any email that DCF sends out will come from an email address ending in “wisconsin.gov”. If the sender email address does not end in “wisconsin.gov” then it is not from DCF. DCF has a Beware of Fake Emails webpage with tips for spotting phishing (fake) emails. Be sure to carefully read the page and bookmark the webpage! 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. Virtual: Hablemos del "time-out" – Spanish Only Please join YoungStar Connect for a three-session virtual group coaching learning experience. We'll be diving into the revised regulations around Time Outs and discussing what this means for your program and how to stay in compliance while ensuring that both kids and caregivers get what they need to be successful. Live session | Monday, November 2, 2026 | 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register through the Wisconsin Registry Questions? Contact Paola Nunez-Garcia This is presented in Spanish. There will be no English interpretation available. Free ECHC Webinar: The Wisconsin Choose Safe Places Program: Who We Are and Environmental Hazards 101 Join Early Childhood Health Consultation (ECHC) for a free webinar! Did you know the air, soil, and water in your child care program location could be impacted by past uses of the property and nearby buildings? Join Kaylie Mason, MPH (Public Health Educator) and Jeremiah Yee, PhD (Toxicologist) to learn how the Choose Safe Places program can help keep children and early childhood care and education providers safe from environmental hazards. In this webinar, we’ll cover basic information about environmental hazards we educate on and how ECE providers can benefit from our free program. Thursday, November 12, 2026 1-2 p.m. CT Live Spanish interpretation will be available This event is approved for 1.0 hours of continuing education credit with the Wisconsin Registry Register for the free webinar. Attend the 2026 Pathways to Quality Conference! Get ready for an amazing experience at this year's Pathways to Quality Conference and Resource Fair, where early educators and school-age care professionals come together to build bridges and strengthen connections in the field of early childhood education. Hosted at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, attendees can expect a dynamic lineup of speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities that will ignite their passion and drive for excellence. In-person Sessions | November 14, 2026 | Hyatt Regency Milwaukee Virtual Sessions | November 9-12, 2026 Visit the Pathways to Quality webpage to register and get more information. Registration closes October 31. Putting Play into Practice: Universal Strategies for Every Learner Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners (WECCP) is offering a 5-part webinar series. Discover how play-based learning creates learning environments that are joyful, engaging, rigorous, and inclusive of the unique needs of all children. Second Thursday of each month | Starts December 10 | 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Audience: early childhood educators, administrators, and related service providers across settings, including Head Start, schools, special education services, family and center-based child care. View the webinar session descriptions and registration link. Questions? Contact Tiffany Swain.
