June 2 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.

Free Child Care Foundational Training Now Available!

DCF and our training instructor partners have listened to your requests for accessible and affordable training and support. In response to the workforce shortage in child care, we are pleased to announce that free Child Care Foundational Training is now available. Individuals who begin one of the courses listed below on or after June 1 are eligible for this program.

The Child Care Foundational Training courses covers the following noncredit trainings delivered in person or in an interactive online or interactive correspondence format:

Introduction to the Child Care Profession
Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care
Fundamentals of Family Child Care
Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher

See DCF's website for additional information, a media bundle, and FAQs, including which training agencies offer these courses and how you can sign up.

Summer Heat Safety - Tips to Ensure that Summertime Fun Remains Safe

Summer welcomes warm weather and sunshine after months of snow and frigid temperatures, along with the opportunity for outdoor play! DCF has compiled some reminders to ensure summertime safety.

Inclement Weather: Licensing and certification rules require children have time to play outdoors unless there is inclement weather. Inclement weather during the summer is defined as heavy rain or temperatures above 90° Fahrenheit. Now may be a good time to review and update sunscreen and insect repellant authorizations.
Playground Safety: A child’s body temperature rises 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s, making them more vulnerable to heatstroke. Be sure that children have ample access to drinking water, as well as shaded areas to rest beneath. It may be beneficial to review symptoms of heat-related illnesses with staff.
Transportation Safety: According to the National Safety Council, an average of 38 children die per year in hot cars as of October 2020, and 53% of incidents involve a parent or a caregiver forgetting the child was in the vehicle. Wisconsin administrative rules for all regulated programs prohibit a child from being left unattended in a vehicle. Always remember to look before you lock!

Contact your licensing specialist or certification agency with any questions.

Additional Heat Safety Resources

Payment Letters Available for Additional One-Time Payment from Child Care Counts: Spring 2021 Program

Payment letters for the additional one-time payment from the Child Care Counts Spring 2021 Response and Relief Payment Program A are available for viewing in the Child Care Provider Portal.

For complete details, see the Spring 2021 Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Response and Relief Payment Program webpage and the Frequently Asked Questions section – Additional Payment – June 2022.

Reminder: Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Training for Child Care Providers – Web-Based Train the Trainer June 7

Learn how to teach Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Training for Child Care Providers using the PowerPoint developed by the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board and the Department of Children and Families. Understand and commit to follow the procedures in the document AHT TTT – Procedures for DCF-Approved Trainers developed by DCF. The objectives of AHT Prevention training are:

To build awareness of abusive head trauma, its adverse consequences and how it is preventable.
To gain an understanding of the Period of PURPLE Crying.
To develop the knowledge and skills to handle the challenges and frustration of increased infant crying, including soothing strategies.
To create a crying plan in order to avoid becoming over stressed or overwhelmed by infant crying.
To be able to support and educate parents, caregivers and other staff about abusive head trauma and coping with normative crying.

The web-based training takes place June 7, 2022, from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Register for the training through the Wisconsin Registry.

If you have questions, contact the Wisconsin Registry: 608-222-1123 or support@wiregistry.org