Supporting High Quality Child Care

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to improving the quality of care for Wisconsin’s youngest children. YoungStar, Wisconsin’s child care quality rating and improvement system, is helping to make it happen.

Learn more about YoungStar.

Wisconsin's Partner Organizations and Initiatives

Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA)

Supporting Families Together Association is Wisconsin's statewide member association for organizations and individuals committed to making every early childhood a great one. Their core membership consists of Wisconsin's Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) and Family Resource Centers (FRCs). SFTA’s affiliate membership is made up of other like-minded organizations and individuals.

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association believes quality early care and education is fundamental to creating a better world. For this reason, WECA works hard to advance positive change for children by focusing on the professionals who provide child care for well over 70% of Wisconsin’s children.

T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood Wisconsin - Scholarship Program (DCF Funded)
REWARD Wisconsin Stipend Program (DCF Funded)
- A compensation initiative that rewards workers in the child care and early education field who have reached specified educational levels and stay in the field (see also Wisconsin Early Childhood Association).

Celebrate Children Foundation (CCF)

Celebrate Children Foundation recognizes the critical importance for every child in Wisconsin to grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments. To further this vision, the Foundation enhances statewide endeavors of the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment.

Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS)

Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards identify the developmental expectations for children from birth through entrance into first grade. The standards reflect attention to all the domains of a child's learning and development. Each domain is divided into sub-domains and each sub-domain includes developmental expectations, program standards, performance standards and a developmental continuum.

Helpful Resources