August 8 Child Care Provider Updates Gov. Evers Calls Legislature into Special Session to Address State’s Chronic Workforce Challenges Press Release – Governor’s comprehensive workforce plan includes initiatives to stabilize the state’s child care industry, expand paid family leave, invest in higher education, support high-demand workforce sectors Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #208, calling a special session of the Wisconsin State Legislature at 12 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 20, 2023, to complete their work on the 2023-25 biennial budget and pass a meaningful, comprehensive plan to address the state’s longstanding, generational workforce challenges. Over the last four years, the state’s unemployment has hit record lows, reaching an all-time low of 2.4 percent in May, and Wisconsin continues to have an unemployment rate below the national average and a labor participation rate above the national average. Still, with historically low unemployment and high workforce participation, coupled with a shrinking labor pool caused by several long-term factors, Wisconsin’s small businesses, farmers and producers, hospitals and healthcare sectors, schools, and other critical employers and industries continue to face significant challenges filling available jobs. To meaningfully and comprehensively address the state’s workforce challenges, Gov. Evers is proposing to invest over $1 billion using a portion of the state’s readily available $4 billion budget surplus to prevent a looming collapse of the state’s child care industry and ensure child care is affordable and accessible for working parents and families, expand paid family leave, invest in higher education to help educate, train, retain, and recruit talented workers, and support targeted solutions to workforce challenges in high-need areas, specifically the state’s healthcare and education workforce sectors. Read the full press. YoungStar Quality Adjustments to Resume in January 2024 The legislature has allocated funding to resume the YoungStar Quality Adjustment system for 4 and 5 Star providers who care for children enrolled in Wisconsin Shares. This system will start again in January 2024. DCF will share additional implementation details as they become available later this year. Child Care Counts August Application Period Starts Saturday Get ready - the next update/application period is next week: August 12-20, 2023. This is your final opportunity to apply if you wish to continue to participate in the remaining Round 3 months. Organize your records now so you are ready for update/application week. Participation Deadline Reminder Providers must be approved for funding during one of the first four months to be eligible for future payments. The program’s funding will not allow for providers to join the program after the August 2023 payment round. If you wish to participate in Child Care Counts Stabilization Round 3, you must submit an application and be approved for payment during at least one of the May, June, July, or August 2023 payment rounds. This participation deadline also applies to program changes that result in a new provider number or location number. If you have a program change after the participation deadline that results in a new provider or location number, you will not be able to apply with your new provider number. See the Participation Deadline section of the Child Care Counts Updates for more information. Update/Application Week Reminders You must review, update, and resubmit your application every month. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. Be sure to carefully review the child and staff lists for attendance and payroll status during the Count Week and hit “submit” once you have completed your review/update. If you do not wish to receive payments, you must withdraw your application during Update Week. Watch the How to Apply Video or Application Guide to view step-by-step instructions on how to submit a new Review the Updating Your Child Care Counts Information During Update Week video to learn how to make application modifications during Update Week. 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. Reminder: Complete Your Business Information Form (BIF) Your local CCR&R has sent out the annual BIF. This electronic version of the BIF is partially prefilled with your program’s details for ease of updating. Information submitted electronically is updated in the CCR&R referral database. Some information, such as open vacancies, enrollments, and waitlists, are shared with DCF and will be displayed on Child Care Finder. DCF and CCR&Rs use this to better serve the children, families, and child care providers in Wisconsin. Please complete and return the BIF today! If you did not receive the email, please check your junk folder. Contact your local CCR&R for assistance with the BIF. Reminder: DECE is Hiring DCF/Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) is hiring. The Bureau of Early Care Regulation is recruiting to fill a 60% Office Manager position in their Rhinelander office. This position coordinates and directs all office operational activities including space and facility management, communication systems, computer operations, equipment, supplies, printing, purchasing, report activity, fleet management, records management, and forms management. The deadline to apply for this position is August 9. The Department of Children and Families offers excellent benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment, with many positions having the ability to work primarily remote. To learn more, view all open DCF positions, and to apply, visit Wisc.Jobs.
