March 1 Child Care Provider Updates During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) will send updates to everyone who has subscribed to the DCF Child Care listserv. Applications Now Open – Project Growth Project Growth is helping Wisconsin businesses, communities, and child care partners add services, find solutions, and innovate through two new grant programs. Partner Up! Grant Program The Partner Up! grant program will provide funding to support partnerships between businesses who purchase slots at existing regulated child care providers, with matched funding from DCF. Learn more and apply for Partner Up! Dream Up! Child Care Supply-Building Grant Program The Dream Up! grants will offer support to 30 communities around the state over the next two years. Through a collaborative community approach, teams will work to evaluate, plan, sustain existing child care, and expand it in areas where there is need. Learn more and apply for Dream Up! Applications will close April 4, 2022 at 5 p.m. CST, with priority consideration given to Partner Up! applications who submit by March 14, 2022. Additional Resources: Help spread the word about Project Growth using our Media Bundle Download the Wisconsin Employer Perceptions of Early Care and Education: 2021 Research Snapshot Access the Business-Child Care Partnership Toolkit Watch the Project Growth Kick-Off webinar recorded on February 28, 2022 Contact wipdg@wisconsin.gov with questions. Reminder: Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in ECE Facilities After Temporary or Prolonged Closures Building closures lasting for weeks or months result in reduced water usage. This reduced usage can lead to stagnant water inside building plumbing and water coolers. Take proactive steps to protect the health of children and staff by flushing water prior to reopening. For more information and steps for maintaining water quality, be sure to review and use the resources below. EPA Resources Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or No Use Restoring Water Quality in Buildings for Reopening Checklist CDC Resources Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation Lead and Copper in Building Systems with Low or No Use Legionella and Other Biofilm-Associated Bacteria 5 Steps to Minimize Mold Risk During and After a Prolonged Shutdown If you have questions, please contact your licensing specialist or certification worker. Reminder: Infant Formula Recall: Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has shared an alert regarding a recall on infant formula. A few days ago, Abbott Nutrition announced a voluntary recall of infant powdered formula manufactured at their Sturgis facility in Michigan, including Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare. This recall comes after four consumer complaints related to Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella. Parents and caregivers of infants who have used these products and have concerns about the health of their child should contact the child’s health care provider. Abbott has also developed a web-based tool to determine if the consumer’s product was included in this recall. Consumers can check their product’s lot number, located at the bottom of their product. Please see the DHS website for more information for families and for contact information for if you have any further questions. Reminder: Help Share Important Information with Families Receiving Wisconsin Shares The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is asking for your help in reaching families receiving Wisconsin Shares. DCF is sending a letter with the below information to families next week. Please share this information with your families so they can better manage their subsidy needs and learn about important DCF communications. The new year brought an increase in Wisconsin Shares subsidy for most families. However, if the child care provider’s price is lower than the new Wisconsin Shares rate, families will not see this increase. This increase was reflected in benefits issued after January 1 for child care services that are provided in the new year. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Shares Parent webpage. Families can use the Parent Portal to manage their subsidy needs. Once a parent has access to the Parent Portal, they can: view current or request new child care authorizations, schedule an authorization appointment, or select the option to receive text message alerts. Learn more about gaining access to the Parent Portal and how to use it. Families can use the Parent Portal to sign up for text message alerts. Messages may be from their authorization worker or may be a message from DCF alerting them about new subsidy information. Learn more about signing up for text alerts on the MyWIChildCare Parent Portal Text Messaging webpage. Watch the Parent Portal training video, too. Ways to share this information in your communications with families includes posting this information in your center, adding it in emails to your families, or sharing it on your center’s social media page or website. Thank you for helping ensure that all families are receiving this vital information. If families have questions, they should contact their local agencies. Thank you for supporting Wisconsin children and families. Reminder: Child Care Counts February Application/Update Period Closed The latest payment program application period is closed. Applications for the February Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program are being reviewed. Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by March 11, 2022, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. The March Count Weeks are February 27-March 12. The next application/update period is March 14-18, 2022. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. If you need help or have questions about your Payment Program status, please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and leave your detailed questions at 608-535-3650. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Resources section to get answers to your questions and find helpful videos, application guides, and tools. Child Care Counts Call Center hours are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. M-F. Child Care Counts Información en español.
