May 29 Child Care Provider Updates The Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program Round 5 Ends June 2025 The final Child Care Counts Application/Update week is June 21-29, 2025. DCF has funding for the Child Care Counts program through June 2025. Governor Evers' proposed 2025-27 budget includes a request for funding to continue Child Care Counts. If the Legislature does not allocate funding for the program in the next state budget, Child Care Counts will end. Final state budget decisions are expected to be made during summer 2025. Updates will be posted on the Child Care Counts webpage and sent via the Child Care Provider listserv email. Beware of Fake Email Requesting Information Verification The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been made aware of a fake email being sent to some child care providers requesting information verification and threatening license revocation. This is a spam/fake email. This email was not sent out by DCF, and you should not reply to it or click on any of the links. If you have already replied or clicked on any links, notify your IT department or service person immediately. Below is an example of the language that was included in the spam/fake email: Subject: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Information UpdateKindly verify if the below information below is correct and up to date.Note: This secure verification link below will expire in 24 hours, and if we do not receive your verification/update before the link expires, we will have to revoke your license. MECA Offering Extended Telephone Appointment Hours Through June 20 The Milwaukee Early Care Administration (MECA) is offering additional morning and evening telephone appointment slots for Milwaukee County families seeking summer child care authorizations. The additional telephone appointment time slots are Monday – Thursday 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.; and Fridays 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 5 p.m. through June 20. Log in to the Parent Portal to request an appointment. Attn: Milwaukee County providers: please share this information with your families and encourage them to request their summer child care authorizations immediately! 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. ECHC Webinar: “Bright Futures, Healthy Skin: Tools for Educators to Promote Skin Health in the Classroom and Beyond” Join the Early Childhood Health Consultation team for a free webinar about the structure of the skin and the variation across skin types. Learn about the importance of sun protection and opportunities to promote sun safety strategies within the classroom. Live Spanish interpretation is available. Thursday, June 5 | 1-2 p.m. | Learn more and register. 1.0 hour continuing education through Wisconsin Registry English/Spanish Training Brochure Going from Just Surviving to Thriving: Budgeting and Recordkeeping Made Easy – A Three-Part Group Coaching Experience for Group Child Care Programs Managing finances is one the biggest challenges child care businesses face. This three-part series is designed to make budgeting and financial recordkeeping more manageable by breaking it into small steps. Spanish interpretation is not available. Live sessions on June, 12, 19, 26 | 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Register at the Wisconsin Registry. | Registration closes on June 11, 2025. Questions? Contact Kim Yehle at kimyehle@youngstarconnect.com
