March 24 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. Important Background Check Reminders Ensure your center’s background check information is up to date in the Child Care Provider Portal! Family Child Care Programs Do you have household members who are age 10 or older? Everyone residing in your home who is at least 10 years old must be added in the Child Care Provider Portal and have a Background Check Request form submitted. Summer Programs and Day Camps Summertime is almost here. As you plan for your summer hires, be sure to remember background checks. Child care workers must have at least preliminary background check eligibility before they begin working. Be prepared for the summer season by entering all new staff in the Child Care Provider Portal and submitting background check request forms. Employees under age 18 are only required to have name-based background checks. They will need to submit fingerprints when they turn 18. Also, staff who reside in other states are required to have annual fingerprint background checks. They can submit fingerprints in Wisconsin or in their home state at the nearest Fieldprint location. Questions? If you have background check questions, you can: Go online and read the DCF background check web page Call the CBU at 608-422-7400 Email the CBU at DCFPlicBECRCBU@wisconsin.gov Project Growth Updates and Reminders Project Growth is helping Wisconsin businesses, communities, and child care partners add services, find solutions, and innovate through two new grant programs: Dream Up! and Partner Up! The deadline to apply for both grant programs is April 4 at 5 p.m. CST. You can learn more about each grant program by watching on-demand webinars and reviewing the FAQs on the Project Growth website. New Dream Up! Resources We have also recently added new Dream Up! resources to the website to help applicants better understand the application and award process. These resources include: Dream Up! Informational Chart Dream Up! Sample Scenarios New Video: Reflections on the Community Experience with First Children’s Finance FAQs Dream Up! FAQs Partner Up! FAQs New Child Care Counts Program Important Dates Webpage DCF has created a new Child Care Counts Program Overview and Important Dates webpage. This one-stop-shop page provides you with all rounds of the program names and dates in one location. Check it out and bookmark it today! Reminder: Child Care Counts March Application/Update Period Closed The latest payment program application period is closed. Applications for the March Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program are being reviewed. Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by April 8, 2022, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. The next application/update period is April 11-15, 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) to get answers to your questions. Child Care Counts Información en español. Reminder: Spending Deadline Approaching for Spring 2021 Child Care Counts Response and Relief Program Funding Recipients If you received Child Care Counts Spring 2021 Response and Relief Program funding, you must spend those funds by April 1, 2022. Review the Terms and Conditions for this program for complete details. If you have questions, please contact the Child Care Counts Call Center via email at DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and leave your detailed questions at 608-535-3650. The Call Center is open M-F from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
