January 22 Child Care Provider Updates Ratios Pilot and Enhanced Payments Pilot Certification is Live! The certification for these two pilots is now available through the Child Care Provider Portal. If you are implementing a 1:7 ratio in a classroom with children 18-30 months, certify your participation today. Read more about the pilots, program details, and updated frequently asked questions on the Ratios Pilot and Enhanced Payments Pilot webpage. If you still have questions, you can email DCFRatiosandEnhancedPayments@wisconsin.gov. Submit Your Get Kids Ready Intent to Participate by February 1! The Get Kids Ready Intent to Participate for the 2026-27 school year is now available in the DCF Provider Portal and must be submitted by child care providers no later than February 1, 2026. Child care providers who do not submit an Intent to Participate by February 1, 2026, will not be able to participate in Get Kids Ready for the 2026-2027 school year. Check out the Get Kids Ready webpage for child care providers for full program details including: Important Dates Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Providers Information on the Intent to Participate Information on Child Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions Resources, including the Intent to Participate Submission Guide If you have any questions after you have reviewed the website, please submit them through the Get Kids Ready Inquiry form. Updates Made to Commentary Manuals Updates have been made to the child care commentary manuals! Some of the changes include: Information added about ACORD certificates Information about float staff Commentary on inclement weather If you have any questions regarding the commentary manuals, please contact Amanda St. Martin at amanda.stmartin@wisconsin.gov. WI-CARE First Year Impact Report DCF is grateful for the input and feedback shared by child care providers who participate in the Wisconsin Child Care Advisory Recommendation Exchange (WI-CARE). WI-CARE members meet monthly to discuss programs and policies and share their expertise. Visit the WI-CARE webpage for more information about WI-CARE members and the important role they play in shaping early care and education policy for Wisconsin providers, children, and families. To learn about the activities and impact of WI-CARE in its first year, view the WI-CARE Impact Report. Respiratory Season Reminders Across the state, many folks are getting sick from respiratory viruses. Wisconsinites can still get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses, including flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It’s not too late to protect yourself and your family from severe illness, hospitalization, and death caused by respiratory viruses. Respiratory virus and wastewater data is available to help keep Wisconsinites informed about current respiratory virus activity throughout the state, including levels of flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Additional Prevention Strategies Stay up to date with vaccines. Wash your hands and practice good hygiene. Take steps for cleaner air, such as gathering outside, opening windows or doors, or using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner. Wear a mask. Cover coughs and sneezes. Stay home if you are sick. Additional Respiratory Virus Resources Respiratory Viruses-DHS Respiratory Viruses Library-DHS (multiple languages) Respiratory Illnesses: What to do when you are sick January Child Care Bridge Payments Update Period Closes Soon – Apply Today! Time is running out to complete required updates on your January Child Care Bridge Payments application. The deadline is Sunday, January 25 at 11:59 p.m. How to Apply The Child Care Bridge Payments application is available in the Child Care Provider Portal. If you have not yet applied for Child Care Bridge Payments, see the Application Guide for information about submitting your initial application. Update Week Reminders Once you are approved for payments, you must update your application every month. Please be sure to review any information that is copied over from the previous month and update all new information as required. Upload verification documents only if needed This includes child and staff records, if updates are needed. If your program was closed for the entire count week (for example, seasonal closures) or if you no longer wish to receive payments, you must withdraw your application during Update Week. Application Resources Update Week Guide – step-by-step instructions for updating and re-submitting your application Uploading Documents to the Child Care Provider Portal Guide Support Center Please send your questions to the Child Care Payments mailbox: DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov and include your name, phone number, provider number, and details of your question in your email. A Support Center specialist will reply as soon as possible. Support Center hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F. Free Choose Safe Places Program Available for Child Care Providers! Did you know that your child care center could be impacted by its past uses or nearby properties? Children are more likely than adults to get sick from environmental hazards because their bodies are still developing and they engage in behaviors that make them more likely to contact harmful substances, such as putting their hands in their mouths and crawling and playing on the ground. The Choose Safe Places Program is a free program through the Department of Health Services (DHS) and builds on DCF protections. Participating in the program can help determine if you or the children you care for could be impacted by harmful chemicals from previous uses of the child care center location or nearby chemical spills. You’ll also receive educational resources and guidance on lead in paint and water, drinking water contaminants, and radon. Reach out to DHSCSP@dhs.wisconsin.gov with any questions and visit the Choose Safe Places program webpage to participate! Reminder: January is Radon Action Month! Governor Tony Evers has declared January as National Radon Action Month (NRAM) in Wisconsin, which is also observed each January by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. About one out of 10 homes in Wisconsin have high radon levels, which can increase the chances of developing lung cancer. Any home or building can be susceptible to radon. Licensed family and group child care centers are required to test for radon every two (2) years for residential buildings and every five (5) years for commercial buildings. During National Radon Action Month, individuals are eligible to purchase reduced-cost test kits through Wisconsin Radon Information Centers. Reminder: continuous radon detection monitors do not meet the licensing requirement for testing for radon. The only way to ensure that a continuous detection monitor is still working properly is through regular testing. If you have questions about radon, you can get in touch with a radon expert by calling 888-LOW-RADON (888-569-7236). If you have questions regarding testing requirements for licensed child care programs, please contact your assigned Licensing Specialist. Additional Radon Information Resources Wisconsin DHS - Radon Information for Wisconsin United States Environmental Protection Agency - National Radon Action Month Information Wisconsin Radon Information Centers Reminder: The Wisconsin Local Foods Database! Wisconsin Local Foods Database connects schools, child care programs, and farmers together to help programs purchase local foods. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Wisconsin Department of Public Health (DHS), and the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) are excited that the resource now includes ECE programs to facilitate hyper-local connections between child care programs and farmers. Visit the database to learn more, and enter your program into the database to let farmers in your area know you are interested in local purchasing. Add your program to the Wisconsin Local Food Database today to connect to local foods! 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. Director Leadership Cohorts (Free) with 4C for Children Virtual Sessions | January 15 through May 21, 2026 In-person session | June 25, 2026 (final session) Sessions meet monthly from 6-7 p.m. Register today! | See the Director Leadership Cohort flyer for complete details. Virtual: Four-Step Approach to Difficult Conversations with Families This training offers strategies for promoting positive interactions with families that are collaborative, supportive, and focus on problem-solving. Live session | February 5 | 6-8 p.m. Register through the Wisconsin Registry. Registration closes on February 2, 2026. Questions? Contact Jess Bowden at jbowden@youngstarconnect.com. 2026 ECE Conference – Big Emotions, Brave Educators: Learning, Growing, Thriving Join Childcaring for a day dedicated to learning, connection, and inspiration for early childhood professionals! Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. | Northcentral Technical College – Wausau Campus. Register by February 13 Learn more and register today. Direct questions to NTC at: ce@ntc.edu or 715-803-1243.
