May 17 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. May Child Care Counts Application/Update Period Now Open The May Application/Update Week is this week, May 16-20. Indicate if you were open during the Count Weeks and update your staff and child records as needed. Payment letters for April were posted on May 13, 2022, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. Never applied for Child Care Counts? Now is the time to apply in the Child Care Provider Portal so you don’t miss out on funds! Once your initial application is approved, as long as you maintain eligibility, you simply need to complete monthly updates to receive ongoing payments. You will not need to complete the entire application process every month. Contact the Call Center if you have questions. Spending Reminder All Stabilization Payment Program funds must be spent within 120 days of the date of the Payment Letter. January Payments (Payment Letter date 2/11/22) must be spent by 6/11/22. See the Use of Funds section of the Frequently Asked Questions for more information. View this step-by-step Spending Tool training video to learn tips and tricks for organizing and tracking how you spend your Child Care Counts You may download the Spending Tool Excel spreadsheet to help you keep track of how you spent Child Care Counts funds. Other Helpful Tools and Resources See the Temporary Closure Guide to learn how to select the appropriate COVID-19 Temporary Closure reason if your center was closed during the Count Week. How Payments are Determined shows all payment dates and amounts. See the Provider Informational Training Module in the Resources section as your all-in-one guide to Child Care Counts. 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. Child Care Counts Información en español. Reminder: Sweeping Changes Coming to REWARD and T.E.A.C.H. Programs The REWARD Wisconsin Stipend and T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Wisconsin programs will expand significantly starting this summer and fall due to recent funding increases. REWARD will be able to support a majority of the state’s early childhood educators at higher stipend amounts, and the changes to T.E.A.C.H. will make qualifying educational pathways nearly free for professionals pursuing credit-based education. For expansion details and ways to prepare, visit WECA’s website. Contact WECA at either reward@wisconsinearlychildhood.org or teach@wisconsinearlychildhood.org.
