Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual
Upon receipt of a report of an incident, accident, death, or injury by an animal, the licensing specialist must review the report and determine the appropriate next steps and the timing for initiating the next steps. Such a determination is based on the information provided in the self-report and on what the licensing specialist may know about that particular center. This assessment will determine how quickly the licensing specialist must respond to the report and what type of further investigative response, if any, is required. This response may vary from no investigation at all, to a desk review, to an extensive investigation. Subsequent regulatory action may likewise range from none to enforcement action up to and including summary suspension or revocation of the license.
All investigative findings must be entered and closed out within 20 working days from completion of the investigation, unless the regional licensing manager/licensing supervisor grants an extension.
The licensing specialist screens the report of the incident, accident, death or animal injury in the same way that s/he would screen a complaint. The licensing specialist must consider whether there may have been violations of administrative rule, whether there is a potential risk to children in relation to these potential rule violations, the nature and extent of the potential risk to children, whether other agencies have been notified, if required, and what sort of follow up action is needed. A fatality or serious injury of a child while in care warrants an immediate response plan.
In addition to potential violations of licensing rule that may be implied in the report, the licensing specialist must also consider whether other violations exist related to the facts of the incident.
4. Screening the Incident, Accident, Injury or Death Report
4.1 Follow-up Investigation is Not Required
4.2 When a Self-Report is within the Jurisdiction of a Third Party
This page last updated 10/2020.