Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance – View by Topic DCF's Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) works with partners across the state that help offer training and technical assistance resources to child care providers. Expand the accordions below to find state-contracted technical assistance vendors that can help you with each topic. Multiple vendors may provide services in the same topic area, such as business practices; however, the actual type of services and supports can vary. Cost of services may also vary, with some being free or low-cost. Use the information below to learn who to contact to find the best fit for your program. View by Organization Name View a list of additional child care resources for both parents and child care providers. If you need help or have questions about... Business Training and Support for Child Care Providers Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Assistance with staff recruitment and retention Free or low-cost trainings for regulation and continuing education The benefits of regulation and how to get regulated Child care business practices Completing your Business Information Form or Rate Survey Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) Contact WECA about: Free resources or business coaching through the Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network YoungStar Connect Contact YoungStar Connect (administered by Shine Early Learning) about: Intensive specialty coaching around YoungStar’s business and professional practices standards Training around YoungStar’s business and professional practices standards Child Care Regulation Wisconsin Department of Children and Families' (DCF) Bureau of Early Care Regulation Contact DCF's Bureau of Early Care Regulation about: Questions about rules for licensed or certified child care providers, including day camps Information on background check requirements for child care staff Child guidance policies and requirements Resources for becoming licensed and certified Child Social and Emotional Development and Behavioral/Mental Health Concerns Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Training and coaching on positive guidance and supporting child social emotional development, for educators and parents Resources for child assessments Referrals to other local supports, for educators and parents Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) Contact WI-AIMH about: Concerns about child development, behavior, and mental health Providing additional social and emotional support to families you serve Supporting staff competence around children’s social and emotional needs and development YoungStar Connect Contact YoungStar Connect (administered by Shine Early Learning) about: One-on-one coaching around social and emotional quality practices Live training around social and emotional quality practices On-demand training around social and emotional quality practices Community Data and Advocacy Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Cost and availability of child care Capacity and staffing changes among child care programs Child care program types and schedule options Wage data for child care providers Thriving Wisconsin Contact Thriving Wisconsin about: Child care data (for example: demand, cost, availability) Advocating for early childhood and child/caregiver wellbeing Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) Contact WECA about: Advocating for the early care and education field Impactful early childhood research that will shape effective policy and drive engagement and advocacy efforts Resources designed to help you effectively share your experiences Family Engagement Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Connecting with local Family Resource Centers to partner on family engagement activities Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) Contact WI-AIMH about: Support around positive engagement and communication with families YoungStar Connect Contact YoungStar Connect (administered by Shine Early Learning) about: One-on-one coaching around family engagement quality practices Live training around family engagement quality practices On-demand training around family engagement quality practices Food and Nutrition Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Food menus, reimbursement, or requirements - including the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) Contact WECA about: Serving nutritionally balanced meals and snacks Funding Opportunities Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Local grants and resources available to support child care programs Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) Contact WECA about: How to receive supplemental financial support for early childhood educators (REWARD Wisconsin Stipend Program) How to receive scholarships for early childhood educators to pay for credit-based education (T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Wisconsin) Head Start Head Start/Early Head Start Training & Technical Assistance Contact Head Start/Early Head Start Training & Technical Assistance (provided by STG International) about: Head Start and Early Head Start services or support Health and Safety Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Resources, training, and coaching around child care health and safety Breastfeeding-friendly practices in child care settings Early Childhood Health Consultation (ECHC) Visit the ECHC website about: Health and safety issues affecting children birth through age five in early care and education settings Developing or improving policies around child health and safety Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) Contact DCF about: Guidance around licensing rules for health and safety, including communicable diseases YoungStar Connect Contact YoungStar Connect (administered by Shine Early Learning) about: One-on-one coaching around health and well-being quality practices Live training around quality health and well-being practices On-demand training around quality health and well-being practices Quality Improvement Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Free or low-cost trainings, offered in a variety of modalities (Wisconsin Pyramid Model, Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, Strengthening Families) Coaching to improve classroom environments and developmentally appropriate practices YoungStar Connect Contact YoungStar Connect (administered by Shine Early Learning) about: Participating in YoungStar Coaching, rating, and live training opportunities On-demand training offerings Pre-Licensing If you are interested in becoming a licensed family child care or group child care center in Wisconsin, contact: Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA), if you are in the Northern or Southeastern Licensing Regions 4-C for Children, if you are in the Northeastern, Southern, of Western Licensing Regions School-Age Programs Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance (WOSTA) Contact WOSTA about: School-age programs seeking support with: Advocacy resources Designing and assessing child outcomes Family engagement Guiding children’s behavior in school-age programs Healthy active OST Mental health tools Professional development School-Age Curricular Framework Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) STEAM programming Suicide prevention trainings Training to meet licensing educational requirements for staff Trauma Informed Care And more Summer Day Camps YoungStar Connect coaching and training for school-age programs Staff Training, Education, and Professional Development Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency about: Local professional development opportunities: support groups, cohorts, conferences, etc. In-Person, Virtual, Blended, and Online Trainings Child Care Foundational Trainings Health and Safety Trainings Understanding Regulatory Requirements Supervision of Children Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Wisconsin Pyramid Model Training Other (Upon Request) Early Childhood Health Consultation (ECHC) Contact ECHC about: Free continuing education credits for listening to a podcast episode or live and recorded webinars on a broad range of early childhood health and safety topics Thriving Wisconsin Contact Thriving Wisconsin about: Becoming an approved trainer or technical assistance professional (including for Abusive Head Trauma Prevention) Also see Wisconsin Registry below Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) Contact WI-AIMH about: Staff well-being and relationships Supporting and examining biases within your program Development, trauma, chronic stress, and other staff professional development Celebrating your staff/leadership team's skills, attitude, experience, and knowledge Increasing/building staff capacities to handle stress and challenges of working with young children and families Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) Contact WECA about: Individual service that helps you determine your career path in the field of early care and education Scholarships to early childhood educators to make credit-based education more affordable (T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Wisconsin) Supplemental financial support to early childhood educators (REWARD Wisconsin Stipend Program) Training and professional development opportunities on a variety of topics, including an Annual Conference Wisconsin Registry Contact Wisconsin Registry about: Becoming an approved trainer or technical assistance professional Also see Thriving Wisconsin above Accessing the statewide training calendar YoungStar Connect Contact YoungStar Connect (administered by Shine Early Learning) about: Local, virtual, and on-demand training opportunities The annual Pathways to Quality Conference Career development counseling Wisconsin Registry (Credit) Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) Contact WECA about: Career development counseling to support raising your Registry Career Level Wisconsin Registry Contact Wisconsin Registry about: Child Care Foundational Training Finding Registry approved trainings Membership and your Registry account Preliminary qualifications to work in the field Registry Career Levels Registry Certificate of Achievement Registry Credentials
