Wisconsin Child Care Certification DCF 202 establishes standards for the certification of persons who provide child care for 1 to 3 children under age 7 unrelated to the provider, or who are not otherwise required to be licensed as a child care center under s. 48.65, Stats. DCF contracts certification functions to local counties and tribes. DCF Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR) administers certification in Milwaukee County. Starting a Certified Family Child Care Business Thank you for your interest in starting a certified family child care business. Providing child care to Wisconsin’s children is a valuable service to families and the community! For more information about the application process and application fees for your county/tribe, contact your local certification agency. Visit the Certification Training page to learn about for-credit and non-credit course options for meeting the training requirements. Learn more starting a child care business by thoroughly reviewing the information below. For more information about starting a Licensed Family Center, visit the licensing start-up page. Licensed Family Child Care programs may provide care and supervision for less than 24 hours a day for at least 4 and not more than 8 children who are not related to the provider. Benefits of Child Care Certification Provider is able to care for Wisconsin Shares subsidized children Provider may participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program Provider may get parent referrals from Child Care Resource and Referral Agency Get Connected and Submit your Expression of Interest Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) to get connected to a representative. You can submit your interest by setting up your account in the Child Care Provider Portal. The Expression of Interest form will collect basic information, like name, address, email, and what type of child are you are interested in starting. You will then be connected to your local pre-licensing or certification agency for support along your journey to becoming a regulated child care provider. Expression of Interest Information Currently Certified Operators Interested in Obtaining a Family Child Care License If you are an existing, currently certified family child care operator and are interested in applying for a family child care license, do not submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the Child Care Provider Portal. Existing certified operators may begin the licensing process by contacting the appropriate pre-licensing agency listed on the bottom of the Starting a Licensed Child Care webpage. If an existing/currently certified family child care operator submits an EOI for family child care licensing in error, this will create a new location number for your facility/program and have adverse consequences related to your YoungStar Quality Rating, Wisconsin Shares Authorizations, Child Care Counts and FIS/MyWIChildCare. If an EOI was submitted in error, please contact the regional licensing office for assistance. Access the Expression of Interest (EOI) for Potential Providers Application Guide (DCF-P-5762) Declaración de interés para proveedores potenciales (DCF-P-5762-S) Access the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP) Online Licensing/Certification Applications User Guide (DCF-P-5768) Access/log in to the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP) In order to submit an Expression of Interest you must submit a Taxpayer ID. This may be your Social Security Number(SSN) or other Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). If you do not want to enter a Taxpayer ID at this time, but you are interested in learning more about starting a certified child care program, you may contact your local certification agency. Not ready to submit an Expression of Interest, but have questions about Family Child Care Certification? Contact your local certification agency to learn more. Am I Eligible for Child Care Certification? Child Care Licensing Law Under Wisconsin law, no person may provide care and supervision for four (4) or more children under the age of 7 for less than 24 hours a day unless that person obtains a license to operate a child care center from the Department. Licensed Family Child Care Centers provide care for between 4 and 8 children. If a provider wishes to care for 4 or more children unrelated to the provider, they are not eligible for certification and must obtain a child care license. See the Allowable Number of Children in Certified Family Child Care table below. Child Care Background Check Law The child care background check law, Wis. Stat. 48.686, prohibits certification when an applicant, household member, or employee has a conviction or pending charges for certain serious crimes or a substantiated finding of abuse or neglect. Review the department’s resources for information about crimes and offenses that could impact your ability to obtain child care certification. Barred Offenses - Regulated Child Care (DCF-P-5206) Child Care Background Check Requirements webpage Regulatory History A certification agency may deny an application for certification if the applicant has had a license or certificate to care for children or adults revoked or denied. A certification agency may refuse to accept a certification application for two years after the date of a certification denial or revocation. Start-Up Information and Resources Preparation Be sure to review the DCF 202 Rules and the Standards and Checklist to familiarize yourself with certification requirements. Note: Please use your Chrome browser when accessing the Administrative Rules and Statutes. Be prepared to submit documentation demonstrating you are free of tuberculosis. Make sure to prepare documentation of current rabies vaccination for dogs and cats. If you intend on transporting children be prepared to submit a copy of your driving record and review vehicle alarm requirements for certain vehicles. Be prepared to schedule a Fieldprint Fingerprint appointment using the instructions and codes provided to you by DCF. Subscribe to the Child Care Email List. Your Child Care - Is It Legal? (DCF-P-PFS503) / Cuidado Infantil: ¿es legal? (DCF-P-PFS503s) Important Resources for Child Care Providers Child Care Information Sessions / Sesiones informativas sobre cuidado infantil Physical Premises Choose Safe Places: Helping Child Care Provider Applicants Choose Environmentally Safe Places (DHS F-02410) English Elija lugares seguros Spanish Xaiv Qhov Chaw Uas Muaj Kev Nyab Xeeb Hmong Forms may also be submitted online. Check with your local municipality to determine whether your family child care program will require additional permits or if the local government has specific restrictions or additional requirements pertaining to family child care. Family Day Care Homes - Milwaukee Requirements & Analysis Form (for family child care in the City of Milwaukee) Occupancy Permit - City of Racine (for family child care in the City of Racine) Equipment and Furnishing Resources Business and Administration Considerations Determine the need for child care in your community. Your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency has business resources and information on the community’s child care needs. Is there a lack of evening or weekend care in your area? Is there a lack of infant care? You may also wish to consult with the local CCR&R regarding market rates for your area. Review the Certification Standards and Checklist to determine if you are able to ensure your home and child care business will meet the requirements. Review training requirements to ensure you are qualified or prepared to obtain the required training. Prepare a business plan, including start up and operating costs. Consider obtaining an FEIN from the IRS if you do not wish to use your SSN for your business. Policy Sample – Family Child Care Centers Word / PDF (may be modified to be applicable for certification) YoungStar Contract – Family, Group, School-Age, and Day Camp Programs (DCF-F-5109) Contrato con Youngstar - Programas Familieares, Grupales, para Niños en Edad Escolar y Campamentos de Día (Spanish) Early Childhood Health Consultation Services are available to help child care providers achieve best practices in child health and safety, including a Health Policy Template. Education and Professional Development Background Check Requirements Emergency Planning Allowable Number of Children in Certified Family Child Care Computer-based training for compliance with Licensing Law and DCF 202: Maximum Number of Children in Care Training Videos Policy and Resources (25 minutes) Practice Scenarios (20 minutes) The table below explains the maximum group size rules. (Printable Numbers Chart) Maximum Children in Certified Child Care Related or Provider's Own Children Under 7 Years of Age Non-related Children Under 7 Years of Age Additional Children Ages 7 and Older Maximum Number of Children* 0 3 Includes non-related children age 7+ and related, non-residential children age 7+ 6 1 3 6 2 3 6 3 3 6 4 2 6 5 1 6 6 0 6 When Children Under the Age of 2 Years are Present Number of Children Under 2 Years of Age Maximum Number of Children* 0 6 1 6 2 6 3 5 4 4 *The maximum number does not include the certified child care operator’s natural, adopted, step or foster children 7 years of age and older or any children age 7 and older who live in the residence. The Group Size Estimator is a tool that will help the user understand when a certified provider’s day care schedule may be in violation of the State of Wisconsin child care certification rules. DCF 202.02(12m) “Operator’s own children” means a certified family child care operator’s natural, adopted, step, and foster children, and any children who reside in the operator’s home. The state law, s. 48.65 (1), Stats., states: If a child care provider cares for 4 or more children under the age of 7 who are not related to the provider, for compensation, the provider must obtain from the Department of Children and Families, Bureau of Early Care and Regulation a license to operate a child care center. This means that if a certification applicant is caring for 4 or more unrelated children under age 7, the agency does not have the authority to approve the application for certification because s/he is violating the licensing law. The applicant must comply with certification standards DCF 202 before certification may be granted.
