Child Care Regulation Information for Providers

daycare teacher teaching kids at a yellow table

Here are some resources and links to help child care providers find valuable information about child care licenses and certification, background checks, child safety, immunizations, child care subsidy, and much more.

Provider Customer Satisfaction Survey - please take a few minutes to complete your anonymous survey. (This survey is for licensed programs only.)

Amending Your License

A licensee may not make a change that affects a condition of the license without the prior written approval of the department. If you wish to change the conditions of your license as outlined in rule (FCC, GCC, Day Camps), you must submit a written request for an amendment to the department.

If you would like to increase the licensed capacity of your program, fees must be submitted along with your written request. Information regarding fees can be found on the Child Care Regulation Fees page.

Background Checks
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Health
Collaborative Programs
Emergency Planning and Response
Forms & Publications
Homelessness

DCF offers a wide variety of resources for families experiencing homelessness.

Inclusion
Nutrition and Physical Activity

Children need access to daily physical activity and nutritious meals and snacks to help them develop lifelong healthy habits. Early education settings area key place to start building these  habits. Early care and education and school-age programs can learn more about how to improve their nutrition and physical activity practices by using self-assessment tools and developing a quality improvement plan specific to nutrition and physical activity. The following tools are available for programs across the state:

Nutrition in ECE

Early care and education and school-age programs can learn more about how to improve their nutrition and physical activity practices by using self-assessment tools and developing a quality improvement plan specific to nutrition and physical activity. The following tools are available for programs across the state:

Physical Activity in ECE

Go NAPSACC

Go NAPSACC works with early childhood care providers of children (birth – 5) to improve the health of young children through practices, policies, and environments that instill habits supporting lifelong health and well-being. Programs interested in using the GO NAPSACC tools can enroll to receive help from a Go NAPSACC Consultant. Programs do not need to be participating in YoungStar.  

Active OST Healthy Bites Assessment

Out-of-School Time (before/after and summer) programs with school-age children enrolled are eligible to use the Active OST Healthy Bites Assessment to improve the healthy nutrition and physical activity practices, policies, and environments to instill habits supporting lifelong wellbeing. Programs interested in using the Active OST Healthy Bites Assessment can contact the Wisconsin Afterschool Network, YoungStar Connect, or local Child Care Resource and Referral for more information. Programs do not need to be participating in YoungStar. 

Recalls
Resources
Rules
Training

The Department of Children and Families has approved non-credit courses that meet entry-level training for child care workers. The courses are competency-based and each approved agency offering a course must ensure that students can demonstrate their understanding of the subject matter before issuing a certificate of completion. These courses will meet the requirements under DCF 250 (Licensing Rules for Family Child Care Centers) and DCF 251 (Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers). The names of the Department-approved entry-level courses are:

  • Introduction to the Child Care Profession (replaced Early Childhood 1)
  • Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care (replaced Infant/Toddler)
  • Fundamentals of Family Child Care
  • Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher (replaced Early Childhood 2)
  • 10-hour Administrator
  • 10-hour School-Age Assistant Child Care Worker

Information regarding the non-credit entry-level courses and other training is located in the following documents:

Please contact your licensing specialist if you have any questions.

For information regarding family child care certification training requirements go to the certification training page.

Transportation and Vehicles
Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP)

The Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP) enables child care providers and centers to access information on the MyWIChildCare authorizations and payments. View the Child Care Provider Portal Information page for further information. View or download the Child Care Provider Portal User Guide.

Request access to the CCPP.

Add Your Website to the Child Care Finder

Child care providers have the option to add their business website to their child care listing in the Child Care Finder. Electing to add a website to the Child Care Finder can help to increase visibility and promotion for your child care program. All program webpages will be validated by DCF staff before being accessible within the Child Care Finder. DCF encourages providers to add their business website to the Child Care Finder.

View the step-by-step process for providers who choose to add a website to their Child Care Finder listing is available to view.