March 7 Child Care Provider Updates Late February Child Care Counts Applications Due March 10 Due to power outages and other issues that prevented providers from submitting their applications for the February round of the Child Care Counts, DCF is allowing an opportunity for late application submission. If you intended to complete your application, but were unable to submit prior to the deadline, please contact the Child Care Counts Call Center at DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or 608-535-3650 before 4:30 p.m. on March 10. The Call Center will work with providers to submit applications. You must contact the Call Center no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 10 for assistance. Applications submitted by the February 24 deadline: Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by March 17, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. Applications submitted before the March 10 extended deadline: Late-submitted applications will be reviewed on a delayed schedule, and approved applications will receive payment on April 12. The next update/application period March 20-24. Spending Deadline Reminder All Stabilization Payment Program Funds must be spent within 120 days of the payment letter date. The spending deadline for October 2022 funds is March 18, 2023. View this step-by-step Spending Tool training video to learn tips and tricks for organizing and tracking how you spend your Child Care Counts You may download the Spending Tool Excel Spreadsheet to help you keep track of how you spend your Child Care Counts funds. Review the Child Care Counts News and Updates about Round 3 dates and deadlines, Payment Program C, and the enhanced Child Care Counts Support Center. If you need assistance, please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and speak with a Support Center Specialist at 608-535-3650. Child Care Counts Información en español. YoungStar Listening Sessions – March 9 In partnership with DCF, Shine Early Learning will be hosting in-person listening sessions in each region to learn about challenges, needs, and successes. These sessions will help guide statewide and regional program and resource development on both the quality and regulation side of early care and education. Join us in Eau Claire on March 9 for this YoungStar Listening Session. Use the RSVP link to register for the session. Eau Claire | RSVPThursday, March 9, 20236-8 p.m.The Pablo Center128 Graham Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701(on-site parking is available) As soon as venues are finalized, we will send region-specific information for the below sessions: Rhinelander | March 16 – 6-8 p.m. Milwaukee | March 30 – 6-8 p.m. Additional in-person sessions in Spanish will be scheduled in April, as well as a virtual session in late March/early April. February Tuesday Talks with DECE Recording Available Did you miss the February Tuesday Talks with DECE? The link to the February 21 talk on Funding Opportunities: Dream Up! and Child Care Counts Program C is now available in the February 21, 2023 accordion on the Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage. Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next webinar is March 21 at 1:30 p.m. and we will discuss Rule Revisions (DCF 250, 251, and 252) and Regulation 101. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and learn about future topics. Learn more about Tuesday Talks on the DCF website. Resources to Help With Drafting Your Dream Up! Application The Dream Up! Child Care Supply-Building Grant Program is a community-focused program. Through this program, awarded communities receive strategic planning support and $75,000 in grant funding. Additional $5,000 stipends will be given to participating child care providers who submit updated business plans during the strategic planning process. Through a collaborative community approach, teams of community stakeholders will work to evaluate, plan, sustain, and expand existing child care, and support new child care programs. Want ideas for who to include on your application for your Core Team? Curious how your team will work together if awarded a grant? We’ve created a couple of resources on the Dream Up! webpage to help. At the bottom of the page, you can expand the accordions to view: An informational chart outlining the Dream Up! process Two community scenarios: one for a rural community and one for an urban community As a reminder, child care providers are encouraged to participate in a community’s Core Team, but may not be the Core Team Lead. Dream Up! Webinars Now Available on Demand DCF recently held two webinars to kick-off the application window for the third cohort of Dream Up! grants. Both of those webinars were recorded and are now available for on demand viewing. Dream Up! Kick-Off Webinar Tuesday Talks – Funding Opportunities: Dream Up! and Child Care Counts Program C Ver instrucciones para subtítulos en español. Deadline to apply: March 17, 2023, at 5 p.m. CST. New Podcast on March 8 - Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues: Candid Conversations on Health and Child Care Join well-known early childhood education specialist Rachel Giannini and pediatrician Dr. Dipesh Navsaria as they discuss how early childhood educators can improve the health and well-being of the children and families in their daily care, avoid unnecessary health-related exclusions from that care, and become better informed and prepared early childhood care and education providers. Teachers, Toddlers and Tissues aims to address commonly asked questions about health concerns in child care settings, covering topics including viral illness, mental and behavioral health, feeding, children with special needs, cultural diversity and inclusion, referrals to community resources, and so much more. Check out the March 8 podcast trailer. Listen and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform. Learn more on the Early Childhood Health Consultation’s website. This podcast is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Early Childhood. “That’s A Skill” – Virtual Webinar March 20 Join the Parents Place virtually on March 20 from 5:30-7 p.m. for the That’s a Skill webinar to learn to set your class up for success by learning developmentally appropriate activities to help build self-help skills for real-life scenarios. Learn more about the webinar and register today! Registration fee is $10. Space is limited. Contact Ann-Marie St John for more information at astjohn@parentsplacewi.org or 262-549-5575.
