Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Child Care Subsidy Administration
Wisconsin Shares Handbook
Children may not be authorized for Wisconsin Shares for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period unless written documentation is provided describing a parent’s work schedule, travel time, or a combination of work and travel time that exceeds 12 hours in a 24-hour period. Written documentation may include a parent’s written statement or other verification already provided for approved activity (see 7.8) or financial eligibility (see 7.9) and must demonstrate the entire child care need (not only the part that exceeds 12 hours). Documentation must be scanned into the Electronic Case File (ECF) and summarized in case comments (see 12.2).
If written documentation is provided describing a child care need of more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period, child care may be authorized up to the following limits:
Licensed Providers and Day Camps: Up to 14 hours in a 24-hour period, including travel time.
Certified Providers: Up to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, including travel time.
Out-of-state providers will have a status of Licensed or Certified in CSAW and CSAW will use the associated daily limit as described above.
| Example 1 (Certified): Donna was recently determined eligible for Wisconsin Shares and contacts the local agency to request an authorization for her child, Violet. She tells the agency worker that she needs 76 weekly hours because she needs care for her four (4) 12-hour work shifts each week, as well as sleep time and travel time. Violet will be attending a certified child care provider. The 12-hour shifts prompt the agency worker to have further discussion about her schedule. Violet explains that Donna would be in care for 19 hours within a 24-hour period (12-hour shift + six (6) hours sleep time + one (1) hour travel time). The agency worker explains that because a child cannot be authorized to a certified provider for more than 16 hours per day, only 16 hours of care per day can be authorized. Donna must also provide written documentation showing the work, travel, or other factors that causes her to need child care more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period. After Donna provides the documentation, the agency worker enters 64 weekly hours as the authorized hours in CSAW (maximum that can be authorized for the times Donna will be in care). |
| Example 2 (Licensed): Carol is requesting an authorization for her child, Johnny, to attend a licensed child care provider. Carol tells the agency worker that she needs 53 weekly hours because she works 12-hour overnight shifts three (3) times a week and needs five (5) hours of sleep time and 30 minutes travel time for pick up only. This means that Johnny would be in care 17.5 hours within a 24-hour period (12-hour shift + five (5) hours sleep time + 30 minutes travel time). Because a child cannot be authorized to a licensed provider for more than 14 hours per day, only 14 hours of care per day can be authorized. Carol must also provide written documentation showing the work, travel, or other factors that causes her to need child care more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period. After Carol provides the documentation, the agency worker enters 42 weekly hours as the authorized hours in CSAW (maximum that can be authorized for the times Johnny will be in care). |
Subsidized hours are capped at 75 hours per week. For more information about the subsidy calculation, see Section 18.5.
This section last updated 11/1/2024