Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Background Check Procedures
As a means of protecting vulnerable children in regulated child care programs, the background check law prohibits licensure or certification, residency and/or working in child care programs when a person:
Has been convicted of crimes and offenses listed in Wis. Stat. § 48.686(1)(c), (and comparable crimes and offenses from other states or other jurisdictions); or is the subject of a pending criminal charge alleging that the person has committed a serious crime.
Has been adjudicated delinquent for committing a serious crime on or after his or her 10th birthday or is the subject of a pending criminal charge or delinquency petition alleging that the person has committed a serious crime on or after his or her 10th birthday; or
Has been found to have abused or neglected a child under Wis. Stat. § 48.981(3)(c); or
Has been found to have abused or neglected any client or misappropriated the property of any client by a governmental agency defined in Wis. Stat. § 16.61(2)(d);
When a credential is required, has a credential that is not current or is limited in a way that restricts the person’s ability to adequately care for a client.
The background check law may impose any of the following prohibitions when one of the situations above apply:
A person may not be licensed or continue to hold license;
A person may not be certified or continue to hold certification;
A child care program may not employ or contract with persons;
Household member individuals (household members) may not reside on the premises of a licensed or certified program.
This page last updated 10/2019.