Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Background Check Procedures
Child care programs are required to have a designated adult who can provide emergency backup assistance in the event of an unexpected emergency. The definition of emergency is found in Wis. Admin. Code §§ DCF 202.02 (5g), 250.03(6), 251.03(10m) and 252.04(12).
“Emergency” is defined as unforeseen circumstances that call for immediate action, such as fire; tornado; flood; extreme outdoor heat or cold; loss of building services, including no heat, water, electricity or telephone; threats to the building and its occupants; lost or missing children; or a provider’s family situation, such as a medical emergency or illness.
A designated adult who can provide assistance in the event of an emergency is not required to submit a Background Check Request form and is not subject to the background check law unless and until they are actually providing care at the child care. Then they would be considered a substitute and be required to have a background check.
On the other hand, a “substitute” is a provider who replaces the licensee/certified operator or staff person in a child care program on a pre-arranged or planned basis. Unlike emergency backup providers, substitutes must submit a Background Check Request form and are subject to the background check law.
This page last updated 10/2019.