May 22 Child Care Provider Updates

2025 Market Rate Survey Shows Cost of Child Care is Rising

Governor Evers and DCF have released the 2025 Market Rate Survey, which shows that the cost of child care is rising for families while the buying power of the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy is declining. According to DCF Secretary Jeff Pertl, “I hear across the state how families need access to child care, but even when they can find it, it’s unaffordable. The most recent Market Rate Survey shows how child care has become a system of high costs for parents, low wages for staff, and terrible margins for child care providers.”

Read the Governor’s press release. And read the full 2025 Market Rate Survey report.

April Child Care Counts Application Period is Closed

The latest payment program update period is closed. Applications for the April Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program are being reviewed. Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by May 30, 2025, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal.

The next update period is May 31-June 8, 2025. 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, M-F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Reminder: Encourage Your Families to Request their Summer Authorizations! 

Do you currently serve families using Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy? With summer fast approaching, this is a great time to encourage your families to use the MyWIChildCare Parent Portal to request their summer authorization.

Here are a few things parents can do in the Parent Portal: 

  • View child care authorizations
  • Schedule an appointment for an authorization request (Milwaukee County only)
  • Request a new authorization or make changes to a current authorization
  • Check the balance on their MyWIChildCare EBT card and track their payments
  • Sign up to receive a text message alert on their cell phone when they have a new message in the Parent Portal
  • Track all authorization requests entered in the Parent Portal using the Track My Requests button

Please consider posting the summer child care reminder flyer (Milwaukee County only) where parents will see it or share it in your parent emails or monthly newsletter!

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. 

  • Free Virtual Training – Technology Impact