PDG Needs Assessment and Sandbox Needs Assessments The PDG Needs Assessment was developed through a systematic process for determining “needs.” Needs are defined as the "gaps" between baseline conditions impacting the lives of Wisconsin’s children and families and the desired conditions or "wants." WI took a multi-pronged approach with our PDG Needs Assessment by reviewing existing baseline data, collaborating with cross-agency partners, conducting targeted interviews with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and much more. View all of our needs assessments and other resources in the table below. Research and Reports The resources listed below are the results of research and grant activities that contributed to the development of the needs assessments. Title Author Date Project Growth Program Evaluation Project Growth Overview Partner Up! Program Evaluation Dream Up! Mini Report Dream Up! Full Grant Program Report DCF, KW2 October 2022 - March 2024 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Eligibility in Wisconsin Urban Institute December 2019 2020 Needs Assessment Summary DCF October 2020 Listening Session Summary Report DCF October 2020 Early Childhood Health Consultation Program Child Care Health Consultation Needs Assessment Report Early Childhood Health Consultation website UW-Madison Department of Pediatrics December 2020 Qualitative Interviews of Underserved Populations in Wisconsin Early care and Education Summary handouts to accompany the report: Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups in WI Early Care and Education: African American Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups in WI Early Care and Education: Hmong Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups in WI Early Care and Education: Hmong [lus Hmoob] Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups in WI Early Care and Education: Latinx Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups in WI Early Care and Education: Latinx [en Español] Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups in WI Early Care and Education: Rural White Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups in WI Early Care and Education: Tribal Communities UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies December 2020 Changes in Wisconsin Shares Receipt from 2008-2018 Memo Institute For Research on Poverty January 2021 Changes in Regulated Child Care Capacity in Wisconsin 2005-2019 Memo Institute For Research on Poverty January 2021 Findings and Recommendations Report for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. A review of YoungStar Evaluation Criteria: Group Child Care 2020/2021 WIDA Early Years April 2021 2021 Needs Assessment DCF July 2021 PDG Application (2019) DCF February 2020 PDG Renewal Application (2020) DCF January 2021 Wisconsin Early Care and Education Workforce Study Executive summary Wisconsin’s Early Care and Education Workforce at a Glance (Infographic) Report on the Survey of Program Directors (Report 1) Report on the Survey of Center-Based Teachers (Report 2) Report on the Survey of Family Providers (Report 3) Outside resources The State of Wisconsin’s Early Care and Education Workforce by WECA (Recommendations Brief) A Snapshot of Early Care and Education Teachers in Milwaukee by Milwaukee Succeeds (en español) DCF, Center on Wisconsin Strategy, Institute for Research on Poverty, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, and UW-Madison Survey Center December 2021 Wisconsin Employer Perceptions of Early Care and Education Research 2021 Research Snapshot Comprehensive Research Findings DCF, WEDC, and KW2 February 2022 Risk and Reach Website DCF, IRP, APL, DPI, and DHS March 2022 2022 Needs Assessment UW Whitewater June 2022 Doing What's Best for Our Kids: PDG January 2021-June 2022 DCF November 2022 Caregiver Survey Findings Summary IRP, DCF June 2023 Promising Practices Supporting Early Childhood Transitions Executive Summary Eight Case Studies UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies March 2024 Sandbox Just as children learn best through play, adults also need to dig, explore and try out different tools. Our team is on a mission to build a “research sandbox” big enough for all of us to find answers to our questions, notice trends, encounter new information we had never considered and dream up opportunities to grow. Below, you will find a series of data dashboards allowing early care and education professionals, community leaders, and policy makers the opportunity to play with data in a virtual sandbox. This research: Describes the range of programs and services that make up Wisconsin’s ECE landscape. Can be used to support strategic planning, draft realistic and measurable goals, and drive objectives for local and statewide innovation projects. Get Started! Health, Employment, Education, and Poverty Data Dashboard Explore the interactive county and regional data on health, employment, education and poverty. Accessibility, Affordability, Quality, and Workforce Data Dashboard Learn how Wisconsin counties are affected by accessibility, affordability, quality and workforce within a context of equity and inclusion. Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Emergency Payment Program Data Dashboard Check out the data on how many providers were helped by the Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Emergency Payment Program. Comments? Questions? Email wipdg@wisconsin.gov