July 18 Child Care Provider Updates

Tuesday Talks with DECE is Today

The next Tuesday Talks with DECE webinar is TODAY, July 18 at 1:30 p.m. and we will discuss Child Care Counts, Background Checks, and other updates. Registration is not required for these events. The Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. 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. Información de las charlas del martes en español.

Child Care Counts July Application Period Starts July 22

Get ready - the next update/application period is next week: July 22-30, 2023. Organize your records now so you are ready for update/application week.

Participation Deadline Reminder

Providers must be approved for funding during one of the first four months to be eligible for future payments. The program’s funding will not allow for providers to join the program after the August 2023 payment round.   

If you wish to participate in Child Care Counts Stabilization Round 3, you must submit an application and be approved for payment during at least one of the May, June, July, or August 2023 payment rounds. 

Update/Application Week Reminders

You must review, update, and resubmit your application every month. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks.
Be sure to carefully review the child and staff lists for attendance and payroll status during the Count Week and hit “submit” once you have completed your review/update.
If you do not wish to receive payments, you must withdraw your application during Update Week.
Watch the How to Apply Video or Application Guide to view step-by-step instructions on how to submit a new application.
Review the Updating Your Child Care Counts Information During Update Week video to learn how to make application modifications during Update Week.

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.

Wisconsin Community Survey for Healthy Minds, Healthy Children

Indigo Cultural Center is a non-profit research firm and is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health. They are conducting a survey to find ways to support more services for children, families, and communities. They want to learn more about your thoughts and experiences regarding Wisconsin and the services that are available to your community. This survey will inform the initiative Healthy Minds, Healthy Children.

All individuals living in Wisconsin are invited to take this survey. Each participant will receive a $20 gift card for their completed survey. Gift cards may not be given to State of Wisconsin staff, LTEs or DCF contractors.

The password for the survey is Wisconsin with a capital W. The survey will take 20-40 minutes to complete. This survey link will close once a region has reached 100 completed responses. Survey answers and records are confidential. The following regional surveys are still open to complete:

Northern
Northeastern
Southern
Tribal community

Select the link to your language preference to take the survey.

Email Jayley Janssen at Indigo Cultural Center for more information.

Reminder: Provider Registration Fees Beginning this Fall

Beginning October 1, 2023, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) will begin providing parents with funds to pay provider registration fees upon the parent’s request. Registration fees are fees that a provider initially charges to enroll or register the child or charges on an annual basis to continue the child’s enrollment. Registration fees are not transportation fees, supply fees, late pick-up fees, etc. that a provider charges separately from a registration fee. The parent can receive a maximum of the provider’s registration fee amount or $125, whichever is the lower, twice in a 12-month period. This amount is per child.

Providers may start entering in their registration fees now in the Provider Portal. Starting in December 2023, the provider must have fees entered in the Provider Portal for the parent to be able to receive funds. If the provider does not have fees entered, the parent’s request for registration fees will be denied. Please visit the Provider Portal User Guide for information on how to enter registration fees. Instructions on how to enter registration fees begin on page 32 under Adding Parent Fees. When entering the registration fee, providers must select the “Per Child” radio button on the “Level” field. If a provider does not use the Provider Portal, they will be able to call the local agency beginning December 1 to report their fees for the local agency to enter. Workers will not be able to enter this information prior to December 1.

While the department will initially only provide additional funds for registration fees, providers are able to enter any other fees they charge parents (i.e., meal/snack, field trip, transportation, supply fee, etc.) in the Provider Portal. This will provide information for potential future decisions regarding additional funds for provider fees. For any questions regarding registration fees, please contact your local agency.

Reminder: Child Care Licensing Rule Books Available for Sale

Printed child care licensing rule books are now available for sale! Copies of the administrative code are formatted and bound in booklets with a table of contents, an index, and additional appendices. The following manuals can be purchased:

DCF 250 Licensing Rules for Family Child Care Centers
DCF 251 Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers
DCF 252 Licensing Rules for Day Camps

Printed copies of the child care licensing rule books can be ordered from the department for a fee of $15 per copy. To order a printed copy of a rule book, please fill out the order form at the bottom of the “Instructions for Obtaining Child Care Licensing Rule Books and Commentary Manuals” document. Use of this form is voluntary; however, if the requested information is not provided, the department may be unable to process your request. Payment must be submitted as a cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Department of Children and Families. All rule book orders may be sent to the Northern Regional Office at:

Department of Children and Families
2187 N Stevens St Ste C
Rhinelander, WI 54501

Printed copies of commentary manuals will not be made available for sale. Copies of both the child care licensing rule books and commentary manuals are available online free of charge and may be duplicated without penalty.

Questions regarding rule book sale may be directed to Steven LaBrasca at 715-361-7713 or via email at steven.labrasca@wisconsin.gov.

Resources