June 4 Child Care Provider Updates New Communication Options for Child Care Provider Portal – Opt in Today! We are excited to announce new communications options in the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP). You can now sign up to receive text messages and/or emails when certain events occur in the DCF child care systems. Once you opt in for electronic messages, you will get an email or text directing you to log in to the Provider Portal to view your document or message. Log in to the Provider Portal to see the new Communications Options page. You can set your options to make it work best for you – and you can change them at any time! View the Child Care Provider Portal Communications Guide for instructions on how to set up your communications preferences. Changes to DHS Immunization Requirements The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced updates to immunizations needed for children in child care centers and schools. The changes include a requirement for meningitis vaccination and that chicken pox infection must be documented by a qualified medical professional. There is no change to existing exemption options for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. What does this mean for child care providers? Child care centers are asked to take note of two changes: Updated requirement related to varicella (chicken pox) vaccine: Parent report of chicken pox disease is no longer acceptable for exemption from the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine requirement. Children must have a diagnosis of chicken pox from a qualified health care provider to be exempt from this requirement. Child care centers must also report outbreaks of chicken pox (varicella), mumps, and meningococcal to their local public health department. The licensing and certification rules related to immunization have not changed. To record immunization information, providers may use either an electronic printout from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or other registry maintained by a health care provider or the Department of Health Services Form F-44192, Child Care Immunization Record. DHS will release updated forms and assessment materials. See the DHS Press Release for more information. Child Care Foundational Training FAQs Revised Child Care Foundational Trainings will begin being offered in June! Want to learn more about the revisions and what it means for you? Visit the department’s CCFT website to explore the timeline and review FAQs. We are also highlighting a few of these FAQs below: Is there funding available for the Child Care Foundational Trainings? Yes, funding is available for the revised trainings only. DCF is making subsidies available to Training Sponsoring Organizations (TSOs) that offer the revised trainings. TSOs will charge $50 or less and DCF will subsidize the trainings for those who complete the courses. Please note: TSOs may choose not to participate in the subsidy program and might charge full cost to participants. If I took the old foundational trainings, do I need to retake the revised trainings? No. If you successfully completed the old trainings, you will not be required to retake the revised trainings. Old trainings will still meet regulation requirements if completed before December 31, 2024. Can I still take the old courses, including correspondence courses? Yes, until December 31, 2024. Old courses will be available in 2024 and must be completed by December 31, 2024. These courses meet regulation requirements if completed before December 31. However, availability of old courses depends on each training agency’s offerings. If you have further questions about the CCFTs, please email DCFDECECCTraining@wisconsin.gov. Update Your Contact List: 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 ProvidersDrop-off address: 635 N. 26th St., MilwaukeeDrop-off hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through FridayMailing address: 635 N. 26th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233 Waukesha-Area ProvidersDrop-off address: 141 NW Barstow St. #104, WaukeshaDrop-off hours: 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through FridayMailing address: 635 N. 26th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233 Southeastern Regional Office Mailing Address635 N. 26th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233Be sure to update your address books with our new mailing address! Ensure Your Child Care Provider Portal Staff 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. May Child Care Counts Update Period is Closed The latest payment program update period is closed. Applications for the May Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program are being reviewed. Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by June 14, 2024, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. The next update period is June 29 – July 7, 2024. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Update Weeks. 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. More YoungStar Listening Session Dates Scheduled – Join Us! 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. We want to hear from you! 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. Wednesday, June 12 from 6-8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Madison at the American Center, Madison, WI.Read the flyer for details.Registration is required. Register to attend. Thursday, June 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Black River Memorial Hospital in Black River Falls, WI.Read the flyer for details.Registration is required. Register to attend. Monday, June 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. Virtual Listening Session via ZoomRead the flyer for details.Registration is required. Register to attend. Miércoles, 26 de junio - 6-7:30 p.m. – Español - Sesión de escucha virtual vía Zoom.Lea el folleto para obtener más detalles.Es necesario registrarse. Regístrese para la sesión de escucha del 26 de junio. Qué puede esperar Este programa se impartirá en español. A partir de las 6 p.m., los participantes aprenderán sobre el trabajo de DCF para actualizar YoungStar y se les pedirá que compartan sus ideas sobre la calidad del cuidado infantil. Los educadores de cuidado infantil pueden obtener créditos del Registro de Wisconsin por su participación. What to Expect at In-Person Sessions All in-person sessions will be in English. Food will be provided between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., participants will learn about DCF’s work to update YoungStar and will be asked to share their thoughts about child care quality. Child care educators can get Wisconsin Registry credit for their participation. 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. 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. Early Childhood Health Consultation (ECHC) Free Webinar Little Teeth, Big Smiles: Nurturing Oral Health in ChildrenJune 6 | 1 p.m. | Virtual | Register to attend. Budgeting at Its Best: When Your Heart and Brain Meet Head On and Using Your Program's Protective Gear: Policies, Contracts, and Risk Management – hosted by WECA and YoungStar Connect. Registration details in the information flyer. June 12-13 | In-Person – Eagle River June 15 | In-Person – Madison (register by June 7) June 22 | In-Person – Eau Claire (register by June 14) June 22 | In-Person – Milwaukee (register by June 14) June 29 | In-Person – Green Bay (register by June 29)
