Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Child Care Subsidy Administration
Wisconsin Shares Handbook
If a parent begins a Temporary Break Period (TBRK) that becomes a permanent loss of approved activity, the parent must receive a minimum of three (3) months in a TBRK followed by a maximum of three (3) months in an Approved Activity Search Period (ACTS). Unless the parent reports and verifies a new approved activity before the end of the 3-month ACTS period, the renewal is due, or the parent requests that the local agency end their Wisconsin Shares eligibility (see 5.3.6).
Agency workers should enter TBRK as the Approved Activity Status in CWW for at least three (3) months and then enter ACTS as the Approved Activity Status following the third month of the TBRK period or the month after the parent’s permanent loss of approved activity, whichever is more recent. CWW will generate an error message preventing workers from entering a TBRK that is less than three (3) months on the Approved Activity Status page (see Process Help 16.2.1) when followed by an ACTS.
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Example 1 (Job loss during TBRK): In April, Aparna goes on medical leave. She has an authorization for her child and is placed in a TBRK period from May 1 until the next renewal. However, in June she reports to her agency worker that she will not be returning to her job. The temporary break from her job becomes a permanent job loss. The agency worker will leave the Approved Activity Status as TBRK for a minimum of three (3) months, from May through July 31 and then enter an ACTS period for a maximum of three (3) months, from August 1 – October 31. Aparna must find a new approved activity by the end of October to remain eligible for Wisconsin Shares. |
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Example 2 (Job loss during month 7 of TBRK): Joanne recently completed her renewal and has an authorization for her child from October 1 to the next renewal on September 30. In February, Joanne goes on medical leave and is placed in a TBRK period from March 1 – September 30. In April, Joanne reports that she has lost her job. The agency worker must leave the Approved Activity Status as TBRK from March 1 - May 31 to provide the minimum of three (3) months and then enter an ACTS beginning June 1 – August 31 to provide the maximum of three (3) months. If Joanne does not have a new approved activity by the end of August, she will no longer be eligible for Wisconsin Shares. |
This section last updated 7/1/2026