July 10 Child Care Provider Updates

July 15 Tuesday Talks: 2025-27 State Biennial Budget Update with DCF Secretary Jeff Pertl

In this Tuesday Talks, Secretary Pertl and DECE staff will share what’s in the 2025-27 State Biennial Budget for child care, including direct investments in providers and investments to make child care more affordable for families.

Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next webinar is Tuesday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and calendar invitation for the 2025 Tuesday Talks.

June Child Care Counts Payments Available July 11

The June Child Care Counts payment letters will be available in the Provider Portal on July 11, 2025.

DCF has monitored available funds and spending throughout Round 5. In order to ensure all available remaining Stabilization funds are spent for direct provider payments. The payment amounts for the final round of Child Care Counts have increased slightly. You can find the updated amounts on the How Payments are Determined webpage.

Note: Funding for a new direct payment program for providers was included in the budget and we will provide additional information via the listserv and DCF website in the coming weeks. Be sure to join us July 15 for Tuesday Talks with DECE to learn more!

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.

Child Care Foundational Training Subsidy is Ending

DCF has been subsidizing the Child Care Foundational Trainings (CCFTS) through grants for completed trainings. To date, we have subsidized 4,417 completions of the revised trainings.

The legislature did not include funding to continue CCFT subsidies in the biennial budget.  As a result, the subsidies will end August 31, 2025.  If you are currently registered for a training that will end after August 31, 2025, please connect with your training agency to talk about next steps.

For more information on the CCFTs, please visit DCF’s foundational training website. To see the tracker of remaining CCFT subsidy, please visit the Wisconsin Registry’s CCFT Tracker website.

Tick and Mosquito Bite Prevention

Summer in Wisconsin brings mosquitos and ticks. Licensing regulations require children to be protected from insect bites with protective clothing or insect repellent. Insect repellent may only be applied upon the written authorization of the parent. The authorization shall include the ingredient strength and be reviewed and updated every six months. If insect repellent is provided by the parent, the repellent shall be labeled with the child’s name. Recording the application of insect repellent is not necessary.

Alternatives to traditional insect repellants (e.g. Skin-so-soft, repellants containing citronella or homeopathic ingredients, etc.) may be used if authorized in writing by the parent. It is recommended the center health policy address at what age children can carry and/or apply insect repellent, and the procedure for supervision so that the application is done in a way that will protect the children.

The Department of Health Services (DHS) is sharing the following resources with our ECE community:

  • Tick Bite Prevention fact sheet: DHS fact sheet with tips to prevent tick bites and QR code for the Tick ID Service.
  • Fight the Bite webpage: DHS landing page for information about tick and mosquito bite prevention and illnesses spread through their bites.
  • Ticks in Wisconsin webpage: DHS updated webpage with the new tick bite tracker dashboard and data.
  • Tick ID Service: DHS offers a fast and simple tick identification service based on a few questions and photographs people can submit online if the general public finds any ticks on/around them.
  • Tick Safety Guide: Information about Wisconsin ticks, tick bite prevention, tick removal, and symptoms of illnesses spread by ticks.
  • DHS Tick Safety Guide Library: contains links to English, Spanish, and Hmong materials
     

Help Parents Learn about Abusive Head Trauma Prevention

Did you know that educating parents on the normalness and persistence of periods of infant crying and the need to identify coping strategies can significantly reduce the risks of shaken baby syndrome? Learn more about Abuse Head Trauma Prevention trainings and resources.

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: Planning Your Physical Environment to Reduce Challenging Behaviors
    • Review key elements of the physical, social, and temporal environments that best support young children. You will evaluate your physical environment, so please come with images or a diagram of your environment. Spanish interpretation is not available.
    • Live session | July 16 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Register at the Wisconsin Registry | Registration closes on July 13, 2025
    • Questions? Contact Jessica Bowden at jbowden@youngstarconnect.com
       
  • 4C Offering Child Care Foundational Trainings (CCFT)
  • Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) Prevention Training of Trainers
    • The Abusive Head Trauma Prevention - Training of Trainers is for those individuals who have previously completed an Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Training and are interested in training others. After completing the Abusive Head Trauma Prevention - Training of Trainers, your name and contact information will be submitted to the Department of Children and Families as an approved trainer. Note: Individuals interested in training the Child Care Foundational Trainings are required to be an approved AHT Prevention Trainer.
    • Virtual Training | Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | Register today
    • Questions: Contact Amanda Austin – amanda@thrivingwi.org