DCF DECE Administrator's Memos Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) publishes Administrator's Memos when changes are made to the county/tribal child care contracts and other administrative procedures. 2026 Memos Admin Memo 26-01: 2027 Tribal Child Care Contracts - Notice of Allocations August 31, 2026 To: Tribal Nation Child Care Program Directors From: Kristina Trastek - Division Administrator Re: 2027 Tribal Child Care Contracts – Notice of Allocations Purpose This memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for tribes for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2027. This memo does not apply to county agencies or Milwaukee County. Background Stat. § 49.155(1m) permits the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to contract with a county department or agency to determine eligibility for individuals in a particular geographic region or who are members of a particular Indian tribal unit, and Wis. Stat. § 49.155(3) requires that department or agency to administer child care assistance. The administration of child care assistance includes Determining eligibility for the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program. Determining an individual’s liability for copayments. Determining and authorizing the amount of child care for which an individual may receive a subsidy. Assisting eligible individuals under this section to identify available child care providers and select appropriate child care arrangements. Reviewing and redetermining the financial and nonfinancial eligibility of individuals receiving child care subsidies as required by the department; and Monitoring child care expenditures. In addition, Wis. Stat. § 48.651(2) permits the department to contract with an Indian tribe or other agency for certification of child care providers under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DCF 202. The department also allocates funds under Wis. Stat. § 49.175(1)(h) to local agencies to investigate suspected fraud. Allocations The FFY 2027 Child Care Administration allocations for each tribe are shown in Attachment A. These allocations can be used by agencies for budget purposes. Administration (5852 and 5832) The total Administration allocation for FFY 2027 is $726,047. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 49.155(3m), this allocation is distributed based on agency caseload size and activity. Allocations are at least 95% of the allocated amount in the previous year, and no less than $20,000. The Administration allocation must be used for administration and operation expenses, eligibility determinations, authorization activities, hearings, staff and other costs related to the operation of the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program. Certification (5831) The total Certification allocation for FFY 2027 is $94,675. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 48.651(2c)(b), this allocation is distributed based on the number of certified providers in each agency. Allocations are of the allocated amount in the previous year, and no less than $1,250. The Certification allocation must be used for expenses associated with screening child care certification applications and renewals, performing background checks, site visits, compliance monitoring, complaint processing and issuing certification certificates. Supplemental Fraud (5840) The total Supplemental Fraud allocation for FFY 2027 is $20,675. This allocation is distributed based on agency caseload size and activity. Allocations are at least 95% of the allocated amount in the previous year, and no less than $2,000. The Supplemental Fraud allocation must be used for expenses associated with fraud prevention, child care fraud identification and recovery of overpayments. Total Child Care Administration, Certification, and Supplemental Fraud Allocations SPARC Line FFY 2027 Tribal Allocations 5852 Administration $726,047 5831 Certification $94,675 5840 Supplemental Fraud $20,675 TOTAL $841,397 Expenditure Reporting Agencies contracted to administer child care assistance for a tribe must report all child care program expenditures on the appropriate reporting lines in SPARC, as well as any fees or other program revenues received that offset program expenses. SPARC reports must be submitted monthly. Read specific instructions on how to submit reports. Agencies contracted to administer child care assistance for a tribe may transfer funds between Administration (5852) and Certification (5831) anytime during the contract year until November 29, 2027. The Fraud allocation is a separate appropriation and therefore is not interchangeable with Administration or Certification. Year End Balancing and Closeout Agencies contracted to administer child care assistance for a tribe must submit final expense reports no later than 60 days following the end of the contract period. Final expenses are due by November 29, 2027. Expenses reported late will be disallowed by the department. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 49.155(3m)(b)4., within any contract period, the department may redistribute unexpended contract balances for a county department or agency to another county department or agency that reports expenditures in excess of their original contract total for the period. Action Summary Statement The Tribal FFY 2027 contracts will be issued in August 2026. Contact Abigail Widick Telephone: 920-785-7844 Attachment A: Tribal FFY 2027 Child Care Contract Allocation Amounts Tribal FFY 27 Child Care Contract Allocation Amounts Tribe Administration Certification Supplemental-Fraud Total Allocation Bad River $70,000 $31,029 $2,000 $103,029 Forest Co. Potawatomi $70,000 $16,585 $2,000 $88,585 Lac Courte Oreilles $70,000 $13,094 $2,000 $85,094 Lac du Flambeau $70,000 $12,341 $2,000 $84,341 Menominee Tribe $70,000 $0 $2,000 $72,000 Oneida Nation $96,047 $1,313 $2,675 $100,035 Red Cliff $70,000 $12,221 $2,000 $84,221 Sokaogon $70,000 $3,267 $2,000 $75,267 Stockbridge Munsee $70,000 $4,825 $2,000 $76,825 St. Croix $70,000 $0 $2,000 $72,000 Totals $726,047 $94,675 $20,675 $841,397 2025 Memos Admin Memo 25-02 - Wisconsin Shares Statewide Maximum Rate Increase The 25-02 Administrator's Memo announces an increase in Wisconsin Shares maximum rates. The change will be effective October 1, 2025. Admin Memo 25-01 - 2026 Child Care Contracts - Notice of Allocations The 25-01 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Tribal and County Agencies for contract year (CY) 2026. This memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. Attachment A - CY 2026 Agency Child Care Contract Allocation Amounts Appendix A - WREA Consortium Funding Breakdown Appendix B - Great Rivers Consortium Funding Breakdown Appendix C - Northern Income Maintenance Consortium Funding Breakdown Appendix D - Central Income Maintenance Consortium Funding Breakdown 2024 Memos Admin Memo 24-01 - 2025 Child Care Contracts - Notice of Allocations The 24-01 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Tribal and County Agencies for contract year (CY) 2025. This memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. Appendix A - Agency Allocations CY 2025 Appendix B - WREA Appendix C - Great Rivers Appendix D - NIMC Appendix E - IM Attachments A-E 2023 Memos Admin Memo 23-01 - 2024 Child Care Contracts - Notice of Allocations The 23-01 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Tribal and County agencies for contract year (CY) 2024. This Memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. Appendix A - Agency Allocations CY 2024 Appendix B - WREA Appendix C - Great Rivers Appendix D - NIMC 2022 Memos Admin Memo 22-01 - 2023 Child Care Contract – Notice of Allocations The 22-01 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Wisconsin agencies for contract year (CY) 2023. This Memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. 2021 Memos Admin Memo 21-02 - Wisconsin Shares Statewide Maximum Rate Increase The 21-02 Administrator's Memo announces a historic increase in Wisconsin Shares maximum rates. The change will be effective on January 1, 2022. Admin Memo 21-01 - 2022 Child Care Contract - Notice of Allocations The 21-01 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Wisconsin agencies for contract year 2022. This memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. Attachment: Appendix A - Agency Allocations 2022 2020 Memos Admin Memo 20-01 - 2021 Child Care Contract - Notice of Allocations The 20-01 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Wisconsin agencies for contract year 2021. This memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. Attachment: FFY/CY2021 Child Care Contract Allocations 2019 Memos Admin Memo 19-03 - Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Maximum Rate Increase The 19-03 Administrator's Memo announces a Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy maximum rate increase for all age groups. The change will be effective on October 1, 2019. Admin Memo 19-02 - 2020 Child Care Contract - Notice of Allocations The 19-02 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Wisconsin agencies for contract year 2020. This memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. CY/FFY 2020 Child Care Allocations by County - Attachment Admin Memo 19-01 - System Misuse The 19-01 Administrator's Memo outlines the process for security delegates and supervisors to report incidents of suspected system misuse to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) effective 2/01/2019. 2018 Memos Admin Memo 18-03 - Wisconsin Shares Maximum Rate Increase and Change to 4 Star and 5 Star YoungStar Adjustments The 18-03 Administrator's Memo announces a Wisconsin Shares maximum rate increase for all age groups and an increase to the 4 Star and 5 Star YoungStar Adjustments. Both changes are effective January 1, 2019. Admin Memo 18-02 - Wisconsin Shares Maximum Rate Increase and Change to 2 Star YoungStar Adjustment The 18-02 Administrator's Memo announces a Wisconsin Shares maximum rate increase for infants and toddlers, and a reduction to the 2 Star YoungStar Adjustment. Both changes are effective October 1, 2018. Attachment: 2018 County and Tribal Child Care Rates - Statewide Admin Memo 18-01 - 2019 Child Care Contract - Notice of Allocations The 18-01 Administrator's Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification, and Supplemental Fraud allocations for local agencies for contract year 2019. This memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. Attachment: CY/FFY 2019 Child Care Contract Allocations 2017 Memos Admin Memo 17-01 CY 2017 - Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Agency Review Process - 07/31/2017 The 17-01 Administrator’s Memo describes the process to review administration of Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy program by Agencies under contract with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to operate the Shares Programs. Admin Memo 17-02 - 2018 Child Care Contract- Notice of Allocations 8/17/2017 The 17-02 Administrator’s Memo provides notice of the Child Care Administration, Certification and Supplemental Fraud allocations for Wisconsin agencies for contract year 2018. This memo does not apply to Milwaukee County. Attachment: CY/FFY 2018 Child Care Contract Allocations
