October 4 Child Care Provider Updates September Child Care Counts Updates are Due Tomorrow – Oct. 5 Time is running short to complete required updates on your September Child Care Counts applications. The deadline is tomorrow – October 5 at 11:59 p.m. Update Week Reminders Were approved for August funds? If yes, you must update and re-submit your application by October 5. Is your application in “Review Needed” status? If yes, you still must update and re-submit your application by October 5. Review the Update Guide and Update Video for step-by-step instructions on updating and re-submitting your application during Update Week. Spending Deadline Reminder All Stabilization Payment Program Funds must be spent within 120 days of the payment letter date. The spending deadline for May 2022 funds is October 8, 2022. Questions? We’re here to help. Email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and leave your detailed questions at 608-535-3650. Please be sure to include your provider ID, location number, and details about your question when calling or emailing. Call center hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Child Care Counts Información en español. September Tuesday Talks with DECE Recording Available Thank you to everyone who attended the September Tuesday Talks with DECE! The link to the September 20 webinar about Children with Special Needs is now available in the September 20 Children with Special Needs accordion on the Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage. Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next webinar is October 18 at 1:30 p.m. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and learn about future topics. Learn more about Tuesday Talks on the DCF website. Wisconsin Lead-in-Water Testing and Remediation Initiative Have you heard about the Wisconsin Lead-in-Water Initiative? Lead exposure and the clean water needs of Wisconsin’s youngest children are public health issues that DCF the Department of Health Services (DHS) are working in partnership to address for early care and education facilities. Young children are at particular risk from lead exposure, even at low levels, because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults. We know that many young children spend significant amounts of time in child care settings and, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), child care facilities, among other types of buildings, may have a higher potential for elevated lead levels in their drinking water from being closed over weekends, holidays, and extended breaks during which lead in pipes and other fixtures can leach into the water. PDG funding, in conjunction with funding from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) Grant from the EPA, is used to test water in priority licensed group ECE facilities serving children ages 0-3 for lead contamination and based on test results, implement lead remediation services which may include, filter installation and maintenance, replacing lead fixtures, and providing bottled water and/or clean water filling stations. Testing in group centers thus far has shown 70% of child care centers tested, had at least one fixture test high for lead in water. The average percentage of fixtures per child care center that tested above the remediation trigger ranged has ranged from 5%-15%. We encourage group child care centers to participate in this voluntary program. Priority centers (those serving children ages 0-3) will be contacted by their local public health department or DHS as the program expands throughout the state. If you have questions, contact DHS at madelyn.reinagel@dhs.wisconsin.gov or your Licensing Specialist. Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in ECE Facilities After Temporary or Prolonged Closures Building closures lasting for weeks or months result in reduced water usage. This reduced usage can lead to stagnant water inside building plumbing and water coolers. Take proactive steps to protect the health of children and staff by flushing water prior to reopening. For more information and steps for maintaining water quality, be sure to review and use the resources below. Wisconsin Lead-in-Water Testing and Remediation Initiative EPA Resources Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or No Use Restoring Water Quality in Buildings for Reopening Checklist CDC Resources Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation Lead and Copper in Building Systems with Low or No Use Legionella and Other Biofilm-Associated Bacteria Pathways to Quality Conference and Resource Fair! The Pathways to Quality Conference provides an opportunity to share information about current topics in early learning with child care providers living and working in the Greater Milwaukee area. The conference targets programs participating in YoungStar, Wisconsin’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. Pathways provides information and resources for all early learning professionals who work with children ages birth through 12 years of age. Information and support for programs participating in YoungStar, Wisconsin’s Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System sessions on: Literacy and Language Learning Creating Environments that Support Learning Supporting Children’s Behavior YoungStar Updates And much more! Conference Dates: October 24-29, 2022 – Hybrid format. See the conference website for complete details. Visit the Pathways Facebook page or the 4C website for more information. Easiest way to register is on the Wisconsin Registry. School-Age Child Care Professional Development Opportunities Professional development opportunities happening this fall. School-Age Curricular Framework School-Age Curricular Framework defines and explores curriculum within the context of Out-of-School time programs and helps staff develop the resources necessary to create developmentally appropriate intentional learning experiences and activities to support both academic and social-emotional learning of school-age children. Participants gain an understanding of key elements and developmental concepts that go into creating a framework for curriculum and develop strategies for activity and lesson planning. Register online today. Trauma Informed Care Approach to OST Trauma is one of the key leverage points that can underlie serious behavioral health problems and contribute to problematic behaviors, life circumstances, and community consequences for many children. Participants will understand the wide spectrum of adverse childhood experiences and impact these have on the development and behavior of children in afterschool care as well as understand brain development in early childhood through adolescence and the impact of trauma. Strategies and resources available to afterschool providers will be explored that can be immediately and effectively implemented within the context of the afterschool program.Register online today. Equity and Inclusion in OST Programs This course is designed to help afterschool programs creat4e a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children and their families. The course explores our own biases and how they impact our interactions with children and families and understand inequities from a systemic perspective. This course will open a dialogue and help us gain a growth mindset toward our work on inclusivity. Register online today. If you have questions about any of the opportunities, please email: neve.randy@marshfieldclinic.org. View the Course Calendar. DCF is Hiring The Division of Early Care and Education, Bureau of Early Care Regulation, is hiring a Background Analyst. This position performs professional analysis of the Caregiver Background Check requirements to ensure compliance with statutory and administrative code requirements for childcare programs regulated by the Department. The deadline to apply for this position is October 13. DCF offers flexibility for predominantly remote work, and staff can report to any of the DCF offices. View all open DCF positions at Wisc.Jobs.
