A special message from DCF Secretary Emilie Amundson regarding yesterday’s Special Session 

Last month, Governor Evers called the State Legislature into a special session to address the state’s chronic workforce challenges, including access to quality, affordable child care. Yesterday, the Legislature convened and opened the special session. While no action was taken, the session remains open – meaning the chance to ensure Wisconsin’s early care and education industry remains stable is still on the table.

What you are doing is working. Your stories are being heard, both here in Wisconsin and across the nation, and making legislators take pause. It is critical, perhaps now more than ever, that you continue to share your story over the coming days. Whether that be with elected officials, the families you serve, or your community, your voice matters in helping get meaningful legislation and funding across the finish line.

On behalf of myself and Governor Evers, I want to say thank you. As we have visited programs over these last several months, we have seen firsthand the amazing work you are doing with our littlest learners. We have also seen and heard about the daily challenges you are facing with hiring and retaining staff and doing everything within your power to not raise your tuition rates and price families out of care.

Please know that Governor Evers and I remain committed to working across the aisle to build an early care and education system that not only supports all Wisconsin families, but also the workforce behind it.

Emilie Amundson
Secretary