June 21 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. TODAY: Tuesday Talks with DECE – New Monthly Webinar Beginning today, June 21, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., we invite you to attend our new monthly webinar series: Tuesday Talks with DECE. This series will provide monthly opportunities to talk with the Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) at DCF on the third Tuesday of every month. Today’s topic is Child Care Counts. No need to register. Just follow the Zoom link posted on our website at the time of the webinar. You can also download the re-occurring calendar invite with the Zoom information in it. Spanish interpretation will be available. Update Your Child Care Counts Application This Week This week, June 20-24, is the June application/update week. Update your staff and child records as needed. Do you have changes in children or staff for summer programming? June applications should reflect end of school year/summer program enrollment. Update your Child Care Counts application this week to reflect those changes so you don’t miss out on any funding. Deadline to submit your application is 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 24. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. Watch the How to Apply videos to view step-by-step instructions on how to submit your application. Review the Updating Your Child Care Counts Information During Update Week video to learn how to make application modifications during Update Week. Got questions about your Payment Program status? We’re here to help! Please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and leave your detailed questions at 608-535-3650. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), too. Child Care Counts Información en español. Children's Long-Term Support Program – Training Opportunity June 22 Announcing a free training with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services with Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed about the Children's Long-Term Support Program for children with special needs. This free training will provide you with overview of the program, how parents/guardians can apply, and the services and supports the family can access to support their child at home and while in your child care program. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. It will a be recorded and sent to all those who registered for the event. Sign up online. See the attached Children’s Services Programs: Cross Comparison PDF flyer and the Birth to 3 Program brochure for more information. REWARD and T.E.A.C.H. Expansion Reminders An important reminder: The REWARD Wisconsin Stipend and T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Wisconsin programs are expanding significantly starting this summer. 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. The T.E.A.C.H. application deadline for the fall semester is Friday, July 1 – start the application process here. Sign up for an email update notifying you when the new REWARD application goes live. For more details, visit WECA’s website. For questions, contact WECA at reward@wisconsinearlychildhood.org or teach@wisconsinearlychildhood.org.
