May 23 Child Care Provider Updates

Apply Now Through June 4 for Round 3 of Child Care Counts Stabilization Payment Program

Application Week for Round 3 of Child Care Counts Stabilization Payment Program runs May 20 – June 4. Apply early to ensure you don’t miss the deadline. Payment letters for April are in the Child Care Provider Portal.

What You Need to do During Application Week

  • You must submit a new initial application to be eligible for ongoing monthly payments for Round 3.
  • If you applied in April, much of your information will be copied to the new Round 3 application. Be sure to review this information carefully and update as needed when submitting your new application.
  • You must upload verification documents with your initial Round 3 application. You cannot submit an initial application without uploading the following documents:
    • Program A – Child Attendance Records 
    • Program B – Staff Records (employment status, part/full-time status, and current wages/rate of pay), and Child Attendance Records (if they were not already uploaded for Program A) 
  • Once approved, you must submit monthly updates to your application, and adhere to the program Terms and Conditions in order to receive ongoing monthly payments.

See the Round 3 Application Guide for instructions on submitting your Child Care Counts application. See the Child Care Counts updated webpage and read the Round 3 Terms and Conditions for complete details.

If you need assistance, email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and speak with a Support Center Specialist at 608-535-3650.

Child Care Counts Información en español.

Reminder: YoungStar Transition Listening Session May 25

Join the YoungStar Connect Team for an in-person listening and learning session about the YoungStar transition. As a provider or supporter of providers, you are invited to share your thoughts and ideas about how YoungStar can best support you around the topics that you find most pressing. Space is limited, so register ASAP!

Thursday, May 25 | 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel, Simone Ballroom
139 E. Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee
Registration

YoungStar Services Now Offered Through YoungStar Connect! 

As part of a regularly scheduled request for proposal, Shine Early Learning was selected to deliver YoungStar services to all participating providers in Wisconsin. Shine Early Learning has created the YoungStar Connect team - a team of early care and education and school-age care professionals ready to deliver specialized training and supports that meet Wisconsin’s provider needs. 

Along with local YoungStar coaches and raters, the YoungStar Connect team brings together many Wisconsin organizations providers are already familiar with, including the Wisconsin Registry and Wisconsin Early Childhood Association. These partnerships will bring statewide knowledge and expertise to local communities.

New and Expanded Services

The YoungStar Connect team will deliver all the same YoungStar services providers are used to and more. Providers will be able to choose what supports they need, when they need them, and how they prefer to receive them.

The YoungStar Connect Team also brings new and expanded services specific to family child care providers with additional opportunities for accreditation through Satellite Family Child Care System and a new online learning community, Town Square, through the Erickson Institute. School-age care providers will also receive specialized coaching and training from the Wisconsin Afterschool Network through YoungStar Connect.  

Get Connected!

Local YoungStar offices are located in each of the five identified regions of the state.  Providers can find their local office on the YoungStar Local Office webpage.

YoungStar Connect staff are ready to answer your questions and help connect you to the supports and services you need. For more information, reach out to info@youngstarconnect.com or call 1-833-YNG-STAR (1-833-964-7827).

Child Care Immunization Assessment

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has emailed the 2023 Child Care assessment booklet to all licensed child care centers and camps that care for children ages 2-4. The booklet includes instructions for completing this assessment. Please submit this assessment online by June 16, 2023. You may reach out to Laura Gregor with any questions at lauraa.gregor@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Child Care Assessment Resources