August 14 Child Care Provider Updates Flash Flood Safety This past weekend, Wisconsin experienced historic flooding across the state, especially in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions. If you have been impacted by flooding, remember that you are required to report any damage or incident that may impact a regulated facility’s ability to comply with Wisconsin certification and licensing requirements and/or resulted in a loss in utility services to your regional licensing office [DCF 202.08(1m)(b)(3); DCF 250.04(3)(B); DCF 251.04(3)(B); DCF 252.41(2)(B)]. Your licensing/certification specialist can be a resource to find creative ways to maintain continuity of your program while navigating through damages. Your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency can assist in helping displaced families if you sustained damage too significant to continue operations while awaiting repairs. Here are some safety tips to follow if you are experiencing flooding: Stay out of floodwater. It may contain sewage, chemicals, and/or trash. Never walk or drive through floodwater. Wear boots and gloves for cleanup. Wash hands thoroughly after cleanup. Throw away any food, drinks, or medicine that came in contact with floodwater. Throw away food in packages that are wet or damaged. Wash and sanitize dishes, utensils, and counters that touched floodwater. Additional Flood Resources Wisconsin DHS: Flood Hazards and Recovery Wisconsin DHS Flood Toolkit Ready Wisconsin: Flooding Wisconsin DCF Child Care Licensing Contacts August Child Care Bridge Payments Count Weeks The August Count Weeks are August 10-23, 2025. The next update/application period is August 23-31. Organize your records now so you are ready for the update/application week. You must review and update your application every month. See the Child Care Payments Calendar for future Count and Update Weeks. You will be notified of your July eligibility for funds by August 15, 2025, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. July payment amounts will be posted to the How Payments are Determined webpage on August 15. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Child Care Payments Support Center via 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. When contacting the Support Center, please include your name, facility name, provider number, and detailed question. August Measles Reminders On August 2, 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reported the first measles cases in the state for the year. Nationally, the number of measles cases reported has reached a 30-year high due to large outbreaks in other states. These cases serve as a reminder for child care providers about the importance of preparing for potential measles cases in your facility. Ensuring the children in your facility are up to date on childhood vaccines is the best way to prevent measles and keep children healthy and in care. Encourage families who are not vaccinated to talk to a trusted health care provider about what vaccines their child may need. Families who are worried about the cost of vaccines may be eligible for the Vaccines for Children program. If there is a confirmed case of a communicable disease in a child enrolled at a regulated child care program, it must be reported to DCF and your local health department within 24 hours after the program has been notified of the diagnosis. Measles Resources Immunizations: Get the Facts About Vaccines | Wisconsin Department of Health Services Immunizations: Measles – Wisconsin Department of Health Services Early Childhood Health Consultation Program WI Department of Health Services Child Care Immunization Record (will meet licensing requirements for immunization documentation) – DHS-F-44192 Wisconsin Childhood Communicable Disease Chart – Wisconsin Department of Health Services Head Start 1302.42 Child health status and care. Tuesday Talks: Join us Tuesday, August 19 The next Tuesday Talks with DECE webinar is this coming Tuesday, August 19 at 1:30 p.m. and the topic is: Biennial Budget and Child Care Bridge Payments Updates. Registration is not required for these events. Tuesday Talks with DECE is held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to learn more.
