May 21 Child Care Provider Updates

Tuesday Talks with DECE is Today

The Tuesday Talks with DECE webinar is today, May 21 at 1:30 p.m. and we will be talking about Child Care Counts, YoungStar, and Child Care Foundational Training.

Registration is not required for these events. Tuesday Talks with DECE is 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. Información de las charlas del martes en español.

YoungStar Quality Adjustment – Percentages Changing July 2024

The YoungStar quality adjustment provides financial support for 4 and 5 Star providers who care for children enrolled in the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. The legislature allocated funding to resume the YoungStar quality adjustment, which began in January 2024.

Quality adjustment payments are made up of a percentage of the total dollar amount of subsidy authorizations for a provider for a given month. DCF closely monitors provider payments and available funds to ensure that we get as much funding as possible to providers while staying within the legislatively allocated budget for this program.

  • Between January and February 2024, payment amounts were 13% for 4 Star providers and 26% for 5 Star providers. Between March and June 2024, payments were temporarily increased to 15% for 4 Star providers and 30% for 5 Star providers to maximize provider payments using all remaining funds for State Fiscal Year 2024.

Based on our current projections, adjustment percentages for July 2024 and future months will be readjusted to:

  • 11% for 4 Star providers
  • 22% for 5 Star providers

DCF will continue to monitor spending, and if any changes are needed for state fiscal year 2025, this will be communicated to providers in advance.

Please see the YoungStar Quality Adjustment webpage for more information.

May Child Care Counts Update Period Begins May 25

Get ready – the next Child Care Counts Update Week is May 25 – June 2, 2024. Organize your records now so you are ready for Update Week. Providers were notified of their eligibility for funds for their April applications on May 17, 2024, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Update Weeks.

If you need assistance, email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and speak with a Support Center Specialist at 608-535-3650.

Child Care Counts Información en español.

Reminder: Participate in the YoungStar Analysis and Update Project 

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is doing an analysis and update of YoungStar, Wisconsin’s child care quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). Our goal is to make YoungStar a more effective tool for setting meaningful expectations for child care quality, communicating information about child care quality to parents and caregivers, and supporting child care programs to meet quality expectations. Read more about the project.

Register to attend one of the upcoming listening sessions.  

Thursday, June 6 from 6-8 p.m. at the Oneida Hotel in Ashwaubenon, near Green Bay, WI.
Read the flyer for details.
Registration is required. Register to attend.

Stay tuned for more information on these and other listening sessions across the state.  

Take our survey for parents and caregivers, providers, educators, and child care stakeholders.

Child Care Immunization Assessment Reminder

Reminder: your Child Care Immunization Assessment is due May 31. The Child Care Immunization Assessment survey is available now through May 31, 2024. The booklet is available electronically. All forms found in this booklet may be downloaded from the Immunization Program webpage, under child care requirements.

The Child Care Immunization Assessment form and instructions are found in the booklet and online in both English and Spanish. You may use the form as a worksheet to collect the required information.

Please submit the assessment to DHS electronically through REDCap by May 31, 2024. The survey will close at 5 p.m. on this date and will not reopen. Complete the online REDCap assessment.

Upon completing the online immunization assessment, the information for your child care center will automatically be sent to your local health department. You do not need to send the local health department a paper copy.

Please email DHSImmProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov or call 608-267-9959 with any questions.

Southeastern Regional Licensing Office Has a New Mailing Address

Effective June 1, 2024, the Southeastern Regional Licensing Office (SERO) has a new drop-off location for Milwaukee County providers making turning in paperwork and checks more convenient – no more driving all the way to Waukesha. Providers in the Waukesha area can continue to drop off materials at the Waukesha office, but all mailed items need to be sent to the Milwaukee office.

Milwaukee County Providers
Drop-off address: 635 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
Drop-off hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Mailing address: 635 N. 26th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233

Waukesha-Area Providers
Drop-off address: 141 NW Barstow St. #104, Waukesha
Drop-off hours: 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Mailing address: 635 N. 26th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233

Southeastern Regional Office Mailing Address
635 N. 26th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233
Be sure to update your address books with our new mailing address!

PCEAC Releases First Annual Report

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Parent/Caregiver Equity Advisory Cabinet (PCEAC) is excited to share its first annual report. Please visit the PCEAC webpage to learn more and  view the annual report, available in both English and Spanish. The report highlights 2023 accomplishments, as well as the Cabinet’s updated purpose, vision, priorities, and goals for 2024. We look forward to sharing more details with you soon. Questions? Contact alexander.gagnon@wisconsin.gov. Lea el informe en español.

Reminder: Encourage Families to Request their Summer Authorizations 

Do you serve families who utilize Wisconsin Shares Subsidy? With summer fast approaching, this is a great time to encourage your families to use the Parent Portal to request their summer authorization.

Using the MyWIChildCare Parent Portal is a convenient way for your families to request authorizations, check EBT card balances, view/request authorizations and more!

For Milwaukee County Providers: Please consider posting the attached flyer where parents will see it or share it in your parent emails or newsletter!

Thank you for helping DCF share family-friendly approaches to managing Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy.

Upcoming Events and Education/Training Opportunities

The below events are hosted by DCF, one of its partners, or is one that may be relevant to the early childhood field. Click/tap on the titles below to learn more about each event. *Registration not required.