Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual
If the provider responds to the DC-1 letter by checking Box 2 on the CFS-856, indicating that they are not providing care for a licensable number of children and is interested in becoming licensed, the regional staff person ends the investigation and closes the complaint. To do so, the regional staff person indicates “unsubstantiated” for the alleged violation in WISCCRS and the DC-1 and CFS-856 are uploaded in WISCCRS. If requested, the regional staff person provides feedback to the complainant and/or provider concerning the outcome of the complaint investigation. This can be done by phone or through a brief letter sent under the licensing manager/licensing supervisor’s signature.
Since the provider has also indicated that they are interested in applying for a license, the regional staff person should direct the provider to the DCF Starting a Licensed Child Care webpage, if the information was not already included with the mailing of the DC-1 letter and CFS-856. (Note: Some regional offices include the link for accessing the child care licensing inquiry packet when sending out the DC-1 letter and CFS-856.) If the proper fee for the inquiry packet was enclosed, the regional staff person forwards the payment to the Northern Regional Office, who will send the provider the inquiry packet. If the provider failed to enclose the proper fee, the regional staff person should send the provider a link to the order information for the inquiry packet.
No additional follow-up is necessary. If the provider submits an application to become licensed, the application is handled the same as any application.
This page last updated 10/2021.