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

Bureau of Early Care Regulation

Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual

4.2 When a Self-Report is within the Jurisdiction of a Third Party

Sometimes the event necessitating an incident, accident, death or animal injury report involves an issue that is within the jurisdiction of BECR, but also falls under the jurisdiction or regulatory authority of a third party, such as child protective services or law enforcement. For example, an injury that may be the result of child abuse will initially require a referral to the child protective services agency. If child protective services determines that an investigation is needed, this is reported to the BECR regional office, recorded as a complaint and investigated according to BECR’s complaint investigation procedures.

When a third party is investigating the incident, the licensing specialist usually waits for the other agency’s findings before developing an investigation plan. If CPS screens out and does not conduct further investigation of an incident, the CPS report regarding the incident is considered supplemental information to BECR’s own investigation of the self-report or complaint.

The licensing specialist should consult with the licensing manager/licensing supervisor for direction on how to proceed when another agency needs to be, or is, involved in the investigation of the event and/or when determining the appropriate next steps to take after receiving information from another agency.

This page last updated 10/2020.