Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education

Bureau of Early Care Regulation

Child Care Background Check Procedures

Welcome to the Child Care Background Check Procedures

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This document describes the procedures of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) [delegated to and hereafter referred to as the Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR)] for conducting child care background checks for regulated child care programs and public school programs participating in YoungStar. These procedures provide BECR staff and certification workers with guidance in implementing the background check law and related administrative rule. The procedures are divided into nine modules and two appendices:

• Module 1: Overview

• Module 2: New Background Check Requests

• Module 3: Frequency of Background Checks

• Module 4: Gathering Background Check Information

• Module 5: Crimes and Offenses

• Module 6: Background Check Eligibility Determinations and Enforcement Actions

• Module 7: Due Process

• Module 8: Background Check Records

• Module 9: Background Check Fees

• Appendix A – Abbreviations and Definitions

• Appendix B – Helpful Links and Resources

Throughout these procedures, “individuals subject to the background check law” refers to applicants, licensees, certified operators, caregivers (employees, volunteers, assistants), non-caregiver employees, contracted employees and household members (non-client residents) of the home/facility including certain children age 10 through 17 and some minor caregivers employed in a home/facility. The term “offenses” made in reference to the content of the Barred Offenses Table means both serious crimes and findings of child abuse and neglect.

The Department of Children and Families is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. If you have a disability and need to access services, receive information in an alternate format, or need information translated to another language, please call the Division of Early Care and Education at 608-422-6002. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled can use the free Wisconsin Relay Service (WRS) – 711 to contact the department.

Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Children and Families (DCF). This site may link to sites outside of DCF where appropriate. DCF is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DCF.

This page last updated 08/2021.