June 12 Child Care Provider Updates

Reminder: Child Care Counts Program Ends June 2025

As previously stated, the Child Care Counts program will end in June, with your last payment being July 11, 2025.

To date, the Child Care Counts program has been funded via federal dollars. That funding source is no longer available.

It is critical, perhaps now more than ever, that you continue to share your story over the coming days. Whether that be with elected officials, the families you serve, or your community, your voice matters to help generate support for meaningful legislation and funding.

We will communicate pertinent state budget updates on the Child Care Counts webpage and via the Child Care Provider listserv email.

Air Quality Alerts – What you need to know for outdoor time

Due to smoke from wildfires, Wisconsin is beginning to experience air quality alerts. Like the weather, the air quality can change daily. Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily before going outside. When the AQI hits “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” the air quality can be dangerous for children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease. Outdoor activity is still okay for these sensitive groups, but it is important to take frequent breaks and monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

If the AQI is at “Unhealthy” or worse, treat the situation similarly to inclement weather and remain indoors.

If you have further questions, please contact your assigned Licensing Specialist or regional licensing office.

Family Child Care Providers Must Retest for Radon Every Two Years

Family child care providers may need to retest for radon and provide documentation to their assigned licensing specialist. Since this rule was established in March 2023, please review and submit a new test to your licensing specialist. Please review page 20 of DCF 250.06(2)(n)(5)- Continuous Testing.

Tuesday Talks – May Recording Now Available and Join Us in June 

Did you miss the May Tuesday Talks with DECE? The recording for the May talk, Licensing Back to Basics: Day Camps is now available in the May 20, 2025 accordion on the Tuesday Talks with DECE Recordings webpage. This is where you can access all the resource links shared during the Talk as well.

Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next webinar is Tuesday, June 17 at 1:30 p.m. and will be on Online License Continuations and Certification Renewals. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and calendar invitation for the 2025 Tuesday Talks.

BECR Eau Claire Office Relocating June 20

The Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR) Regional Office in Eau Claire is relocating on June 20. Any materials/documents for the Eau Claire regional office may be mailed to the following temporary address:

DCF
PO Box 106
Eau Claire, WI 54702

Mail must be addressed to the “Department of Children and Families” or “DCF” and not an individual’s name. Mail addressed to an individual’s name will be returned to sender. Phone numbers will remain the same.

If you need to drop off materials at the Western Regional Office temporary location, please call 715-930-1110 to schedule an appointment. Additional information to follow when DCF has confirmed the new permanent location.

May Child Care Counts Application 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 20, 2025, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal.

The final update period is June 21-29, 2025. Count Weeks are June 8-21, 2025.

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: DCF Wants to Hear From You – Challenging Behavior Listening Sessions

DCF is seeking to understand experiences and views related to supporting children’s social and emotional development and navigating challenging behavior in early learning settings. Your feedback and perspectives will help shape a guidance document for child care programs, intended to provide definitions for exclusionary practices, as well as resources and strategies to support both providers and children. This guidance will not be a new regulation or requirement. DCF is holding four listening sessions and invites you to participate.

Listening sessions are virtual and 60 minutes in length. Each session is the same, so please sign up for only one.

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.

  • Virtual: Keeping Children Safe: Supervision, Tracking, and Follow Through
    • Keeping children safe is a top priority for all educators. In this training, providers will learn how to describe and apply active supervision strategies and systems to keep children safe and accounted for in their programs. Spanish interpretation is not available.
    • Live sessions on June 24 | 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
    • Register at the Wisconsin Registry. Registration closes on June 20, 2025.
    • Questions? Contact Mary Niec at mniec@youngstarconnect.com
       
  • Support for Financial and Mental Health Concerns
    • Wisconsin Early Childhood Association’s shared services network can help early childhood programs develop effective next steps as they face the loss of Child Care Counts WEESSN offers free mental health services, financial resources, and business coaching to regulated child care programs across the state.
    • Learn more about services.
    • For info on all the ways WECA supports the ECE workforce, visit our webpage.