Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual
When BECR determines that a situation exists in a child care center that necessitates immediate closure, BECR may issue a summary suspension, or BECR may arrange an agreement with the licensee to immediately close the child care center with conditions and until an investigation is completed. Immediate closures usually involve allegations that there has been child abuse or neglect at the facility and law enforcement and/or child protective services are conducting an investigation that may implicate the licensee, a household member or a staff person.
There are several ways that regional office staff can become aware of the possibility that immediate action to close a child care center is needed to protect the public health, safety or welfare. For example, the licensing specialist may be alerted through a routine monitoring visit, a complaint, a self-report, or through notification from a county protective service worker and/or a law enforcement officer that an investigation of alleged child abuse or neglect is being conducted. When alerted to serious statutory or rule violations that constitute grounds for immediate closure, the licensing specialist immediately reports the situation to the licensing manager/licensing supervisor to determine next steps. Note that if the licensing specialist reports directly to a licensing supervisor (as is the case in the BECR Southeastern and Southern Regional Offices), the licensing specialist will present the information to the licensing supervisor who will then consult with the licensing manager to determine next steps.
2. Immediate Closure Required by BECR
2.1. Immediate Closure through a Summary Suspension
2.2. Immediate Closure through a Temporary Closure Agreement
2.3.1. Executing an Agreement to Restrict Access to Children in Care
This page last updated 10/2020.