Child Care Counts

Yesterday the Governor’s Office announced that they submitted a formal request to the Joint Committee on Finance to use remaining federal child care COVID relief funds to continue the Child Care Counts Program into State Fiscal Year 2024 (which runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024). We understand that there are a number of questions regarding this announcement and would like to offer some clarity.

The federal COVID relief dollars are not new, and this request will not extend Child Care Counts beyond January 2024 or increase the amounts of Child Care Counts payments. The request is for authority to use underspending of federal COVID relief dollars towards Child Care Counts in State Fiscal Year 2024. In addition, the request would allow the Department of Children and Families to use existing administrative funds in State Fiscal Year 2024 to run the Child Care Counts program.

For additional questions about Child Care Counts, please go to our Child Care Counts webpage, email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov, or call and speak with a Support Center Specialist at 608-535-3650.