Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual
All DCF requirements for handling requests for public information must be followed. Generally, the licensing specialist should keep in mind the following:
Complaints and investigations involving unlicensed child care providers occasionally generate considerable public interest. The news media seeks to convey these events to the public. Contact with news media and other persons not involved in the investigation must be referred by the licensing manager/licensing supervisor or the bureau director to the communications officer in the DCF Secretary’s Office.
Any contact from a member of the legislature should be referred by the licensing manager/licensing supervisor or bureau director to the legislative liaison in the DCF Secretary’s Office.
No information on the status of the investigation shall be released until the investigation is completed and the licensee has received the findings.
Conducting thorough and complete investigations and informing the involved individuals of any licensing action BECR is taking takes precedence over external pressure to prematurely release investigation findings. The licensing manager/licensing supervisor should request assistance from the bureau director with any issues regarding release of investigation findings.
This page last updated 10/2020.