December 19 Child Care Provider Updates Note: There will be no listserv message the week of December 25. Our regular publishing schedule will resume on January 2, 2024. Tuesday Talks with DECE is Today The next Tuesday Talks with DECE webinar is today, December 19 at 1:30 p.m. and we will briefly discuss Child Care Counts Rounds 4 and 5. In addition, you will hear from the Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN) on their Educator Assistance Program (EAP). Registration is not required for these events. The Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month 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. Información de las charlas del martes en español. Child Care Counts December Application Period is Closed The latest payment program update period is closed. Applications for the December Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program are being reviewed. Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by January 5, 2024, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. The next update period January 20-28, 2024. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Update 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. August 2023 funds must be spent by January 6, 2024. 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: Child Care Counts Round 4 Information and Important Dates You’ve been asking about future Child Care Counts payments and DCF is sharing information about Rounds 4 and 5 to help you plan for the future. Thanks to an additional $170 million in emergency funding that Gov. Tony Evers has directed to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), Child Care Counts will continue through June 2025. See the Round 4 webpage to read about: Overview of Round 4 Round 4 payment program runs February 2024 – June 2024 Application/Update and Count Weeks for Round 4 Add these dates to your calendar Round 5 Preview Round 5 payment program runs July 2024 – June 2025 Full details for both rounds will be available closer to the start of each round. Keep an eye on our website for additional updates. DCF is Hiring The Division of Early Care and Education, Milwaukee Early Care Administration, is currently recruiting to fill a Child Care Subsidy Lead position. This position serves as a lead worker and ensures staff’s awareness and compliance with state and federal laws, administrative rules, and policies pertinent to the Wisconsin Shares program. This position reviews quality standards, through case reviews, within the authorization unit. The position is headquartered at our Milwaukee office and will have the option of working remote up to five days per week. The deadline to apply for this position is January 3, 2024. View all open DCF positions at Wisc.Jobs. Rescheduled ECHC Webinar: Understanding Air Quality within Child Care Facilities Due to unexpected technical difficulties, last week's ECHC webinar needed to be rescheduled. The December webinar, Understanding Air Quality within Child Care Facilities, is now scheduled for Thursday, December 21 from 1-2 p .m. Unfortunately, Spanish interpretation services were not able to accommodate a rescheduled event and are cancelled for this webinar. If individuals have already registered for last week's event, they can check out the email from Zoom (sent 12/13/23) with those updated details. If interested individuals have not yet registered, please register for the webinar now. More details can also be found on the ECHC event webpage. Reminder: Elevated Lead Levels and Salmonella Outbreaks The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has issued notifications that applesauce and cantaloupe products are being recalled due to elevated lead levels and Salmonella outbreaks respectively. To learn more about consumer health related to these products, contact your health care provider or your local health department.
