August 15 Child Care Provider Updates Only a Few Days Left to Apply for August Child Care Counts Time is running out to apply for the August Child Care Counts. The deadline is Sunday, August 20. Participation Deadline Reminder August is your final opportunity to apply if you wish to continue to participate in the remainder of Round 3. 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. How Payments are Determined September – January 2024 DCF has heard from the provider community that stable, set payment amounts are important to help providers plan and prepare for the end of this federal aid. To support this, we have planned to make last six months of Round 3 payments as stable and consistent as possible. To best support each provider, we will look at each provider’s highest count of children and staff in either their May, June, July, or August approved payments. The highest monthly total of children and staff in the first four months will be used to determine the payment amounts for the remaining months. You must continue to update your application monthly to meet the program terms and conditions. For providers who receive the YoungStar Quality Adjustment for Program B based on their Star level, the August Star level will be used to determine future payments to allow providers who increased in Star level to be paid at their highest level. 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. Attend an Upcoming Wisconsin Shares Full-time/Part-time Information Session Milwaukee Early Care Administration (MECA) is hosting a Wisconsin Shares Full-time/Part-time Information Session for families utilizing Wisconsin Shares. Policy is being changed to comply with federal regulations. The new policy starts on October 1, 2023. Starting with October benefits, Wisconsin Shares subsidies will change from an hourly amount to a part-time or full-time amount. Parents and providers are welcome to attend and learn more about the Wisconsin Shares policy changes coming this fall. Join us: Tuesday, August 22, at 5:30 p.m. Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum2620 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, WI 53206 Registration Link – space is limited Wisconsin Early Childhood Inclusion Tool Kit Now Available in Spanish The Wisconsin Early Childhood Inclusion Tool Kit developed by Wisconsin's Early Childhood Inclusion Committee, is now available in Spanish. Learn about inclusion and what it looks like in an early care setting, what supports are available, the benefits of inclusion, and much more. Download the Tool Kit today! El Kit de Herramientas de Inclusión en la Primera Infancia de Wisconsin ahora está disponible en español El Kit de Herramientas de Inclusión en la Primera Infancia de Wisconsin desarrollado por el Comité de Inclusión en la Primera Infancia de Wisconsin, ya está disponible en español. Aprenda sobre la inclusión y cómo se ve en un entorno de atención temprana, qué apoyos están disponibles, los beneficios de la inclusión y mucho más. ¡Descargue el kit de herramientas hoy! Wisconsin Afterschool Network Relaunches Website with Additional School-Age Resources You’re invited to explore the updated Wisconsin Afterschool Network website! Their website will help with the work of keeping school-age programs and program staff connected - supporting all things Out-of-School Time related in Wisconsin. With networking opportunities, resources to support quality programming, and personalized requests for technical assistance - their new website is a one-stop shop. To access all our site has to offer, create your free membership by completing a simple form located on the website under Become a Member in Quick Links. Once you log in, please complete your profile (it is searchable to help people find you) and provides valuable information about you and your program! Contact wisconsinafterschoolnetwork@marshfieldclinic.org with any questions. Over 20 PBS KIDS Self-Paced Learning Courses Now Available Child care providers can earn Wisconsin Registry credit for free with PBS KIDS self-paced learning courses! Over 20 high-quality courses are available online now. Learn more and get registration information. Questions? Email: learningforcredit@pbs.org.
