April 4 Child Care Provider Updates Week of the Young Child 2023 This is Week of the Young Child 2023, a time to acknowledge all the tremendous work you do every day to support the growth, learning, and other needs of Wisconsin’s young children and their families. For more information about this national event and its origins, visit the NAEYC website. You can join the celebration by searching for #WOYC23 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Catch up on what you missed on Music Monday, get some ideas from today’s Tasty Tuesday posts, and keep an eye out the rest of the week for Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday. Our partners at WECA also put together an Activity Guide for WOYC23. On behalf of the whole team at DCF, thank you so much for your incredible contributions to our field! YoungStar Listening Sessions - Rhinelander In partnership with DCF, Shine Early Learning will be hosting in-person listening sessions in each region to learn about challenges, needs, and successes. These sessions will help guide statewide and regional program and resource development on both the quality and regulation side of early care and education. Rhinelander | RSVPThursday, April 6 – 6-8 p.m.The Pines Event Center5840 Forest Lane, Rhinelander, WI 54501 Can’t make your regional in-person listening session? A virtual session will be scheduled end of April, as well as an additional in-person session in Milwaukee in May. Updated Commentary Manuals Now Available Revised versions of commentary manuals for licensed family child care, group child care, and day camps are now available for use on the Department of Children and Families’ website. All three commentary manuals were reviewed as part of the rule revision process and information has been added for new rules that went into effect on March 1, 2023. Commentary manuals are primarily prepared as a tool for Licensing Specialists, but commentary can be helpful for all providers to help understand the intent and application of the rule. Due to the nature of the manuals, the content is updated quarterly, and hard copies will not be available for purchase. However, the manuals are available for providers to print on their own for free. Regular copies of the rule books will be made available for purchase in the near future. If you have any questions regarding commentary manuals, please contact Amanda St. Martin at amanda.stmartin@wisconsin.gov. Additional Resources DCF Publications Search Licensing Rules for Family Child Care Centers With Commentary Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers and Child Care Programs Established or Contracted for by School Boards With Commentary Licensing Rules for Day Camps for Children With Commentary Updated Provider Reminders: About the EBT Card and How to Accept Wisconsin Shares Child care providers who are located in Wisconsin and who are interested in accepting Wisconsin Shares may learn about the process by visiting the Providers Who Want to Accept Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidies webpage. For child care providers that are out-of-state who are interested in accepting Wisconsin Shares, please visit the Out-of-State Providers Accepting Wisconsin Shares webpage. Both webpages offer easy to understand, step by step instructions on how to begin accepting families who are eligible for Wisconsin Shares. The final step in accepting Wisconsin Shares is to be set up with Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), the Wisconsin Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card vendor. To learn more about getting set up with FIS, please see the Child Care Counts: FIS Provider Registration PDF. The Wisconsin Shares subsidy is issued to families through the MyWIChildCare EBT Card, and families make payments from the EBT card to their authorized provider. Visit the MyWIChildCare for Provider webpage for more information on how the MyWIChildCare EBT Card works. Additional information for child care providers about Wisconsin Shares may also be found on the Child Care Providers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage. Questions? Please contact your local agency. Ensure Your Child Care Provider Portal Information is Accurate Child care providers are reminded to regularly update their program’s information in the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP) to ensure the individuals listed include only current or prospective employees or household members. DCF conducts ongoing compliance monitoring based on information entered in the Portal, so accuracy is important. Inaccurate information also may impact eligibility for potential funding opportunities in the future. For more information about updating your CCPP account, review the Child Care Provider Portal Tip Sheet. If you have questions, please contact your licensing or certification specialist. You can also contact the Child Care Background Unit by email to DCFPlicBECRCBU@wisconsin.gov or by calling 608-422-7400. Child Care Counts March Application Period is Closed The latest payment program application period is closed. Applications for the March Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program are being reviewed. Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by April 14, 2023, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. The next update/application period April 24-28, 2023. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. Spending Deadline Reminder All Stabilization Payment Program funds must be spent within 120 days from the date of the payment letter. See the Use of Funds section of the Frequently Asked Questions for more information. November 2022 funds must be spent by April 15, 2023. If you need assistance, please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and speak with a Support Center Specialist at 608-535-3650. Child Care Counts Información en español. March Tuesday Talks with DECE Recording Available Did you miss the March Tuesday Talks with DECE? The link to the March 21 talk on Rule Revisions (DCF 250, 251, and 252) and Regulation 101 is now available in the March 21, 2023 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 April 18 at 1:30 p.m. and we will discuss Child Care Counts Round 3. 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. WECA Career Development Counseling Is Available WECA Career Development Counseling is available! This free one-on-one service serves English and Spanish speakers and is dedicated to helping early childhood educators determine their career paths and journey in early care and education. The process begins by filling out a questionnaire designed to get to know you and emailing it to WECA’s Career Development staff. You then receive a follow-up that includes a conversation with one of three knowledgeable and helpful counselors. For more details, visit WECA’s website. Questions? Contact WECA at careerdevelopment@wisconsinearlychildhood.org. Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Community Children and families are currently facing challenges that are forcing them to make difficult life choices as they cope with food insecurity, housing instability, access to medical care and treatment. This learning series looks at the Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Community and will focus on how youth serving organizations can help provide resources that enhance quality of care and access to local resources. Coming out of the series, organizations will be able to help families in crisis access safe resources and provide programming that supports a thriving, whole child system. Programs will come away with concrete strategies to serve children and will see a return in their investment when kids show up to programming healthier, happier, and ready to grow. April 11 – 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. How to reframe poverty Best practice and action planning Transportation and creative solutions April 25 – 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Social determinants of health Housing and how to make connections Food insecurity and how to support families Sign up and watch your email for access to short videos and podcasts. Register to watch the virtual series on how to support the whole child. Questions? Email: wisconsinafterschoolnetwork@marchfieldclinic.org
