Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Certification Policy Manual
When the circumstances in or conditions of the home / facility are so serious that the agency determines there is an immediate threat to the health, safety and wellbeing of children in care the certification may be suspended.
A certification worker shall not suspend certification in lieu of issuing a Noncompliance Statement (DCF-F-CFS294) for violations of DCF 202. A Noncompliance Statement may be, and is typically, issued in conjunction with the suspension letter when the suspension is due to violations of certification rules. The department has provided additional guidance on the Certification SharePoint site for documenting certification compliance / noncompliance (see ‘Certification Resources’).
The following includes examples when suspension of certification may be an effective tool for bringing about compliance with certification standards if/when revocation is not warranted, the operator has not requested to temporarily close or has not voluntarily withdrawn certification / voluntary closure:
The premises are infested with rodents / insects and extermination will be necessary before children can be safely cared for.
The operator has been cited numerous times for sanitation violations, but the premises remains unsanitary. A temporary suspension of the child care offers an opportunity for the operator to bring the premises into compliance before children can be safely cared for.
A storm has flooded a basement where child care is provided, and the child care must be temporarily suspended (or temporarily closed) while the water damage is repaired.
In accordance with DCF 202.06(7)(d) a suspension for violations of DCF 202 shall be restricted to 60 days. The agency shall either reinstate or revoke the certification by the date that the suspension expires. In situations when the suspension may need to exceed 60 days see Section 3.7 - Temporary Closure or Withdrawal of Certification in Lieu of Suspension for additional guidance.
This page last updated 01/2020.