May 21 Child Care Provider Updates

Tuesday Talks – April Recording Now Available

Did you miss the April Tuesday Talks with DECE? The recording for the April talk about Child Care Rule Revisions is now available in the April 21, 2026 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 16 at 1:30 p.m. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and calendar invitation for the 2026 Tuesday Talks.

Tick Removal Reporting Form

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has created a Tick Removal Reporting Form that child care programs may use to inform parents/guardians when a tick has been removed from a child in their care. The Tick Removal Report Form includes information on tickborne illnesses, how to prevent, check, and properly remove a tick. This is not a required form but available for use in the DHS Documents and Publications Library.

Child Care Info Review Closing Soon! Share Your Voice and Help Shape Wisconsin’s Child Care System

There’s still time to update your Rates & Enrollment in the “Child Care Info Review” before it closes on May 31. Your data will help show how changes in child care funding, policies, and programs are impacting providers across Wisconsin and help inform decisions about future support. Make sure your program’s experience and needs are represented.

As a thank you, providers who update their Rates & Enrollment by May 31 will receive a $15 electronic Walmart gift card (up to 3,500 providers) and be entered to win a $250 Lakeshore gift card.

As of Monday, May 18, 2,390 providers (51%) have completed the form. Help us reach our goal of a 75% response rate!

Check your inbox for an email from Cassandra Gamble at Thriving Wisconsin with your unique link.

For questions, contact Cassandra Gamble at cassandra@thrivingwi.org or (608) 443-2120.

Child Care Bridge Payments End June 28, 2026

Reminder: The Child Care Bridge Payments (CCPB) end on June 28, 2026 and final payments will be posted on July 10, 2026. DCF encourages all eligible child care providers to continue submitting monthly applications through the end of the program. See program details on the CCBP webpage.

Reminder: Get Ready for the May Child Care Bridge Payments Update Period

The next update/application period starts soon: May 23-31, 2026. Organize your records now so you are ready for the next Child Care Bridge Payments Update/Application Week. You must review and update your application every month. See the Child Care Payments Calendar for future Count and Update Weeks.

Update Week Application Resources

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.

Reminder: Beware of Fake Emails Requesting Information Verification

Recently, it was reported to DCF that some Wisconsin child care providers have been receiving fake/spam emails again that request personal information verification. Remember, any email that DCF sends out will come from an email address ending in “wisconsin.gov”. If the sender email address does not end in “wisconsin.gov” then it is not from DCF.

DCF has a Beware of Fake Emails webpage with tips for spotting phishing (fake) emails. Be sure to carefully read the page and bookmark the new webpage!

Reminder: Encourage Your Families to Request their Summer Authorizations! 

Do you currently serve families using Wisconsin Shares subsidy? With summer fast approaching, this is a great time to encourage your families to use the MyWIChildCare Parent Portal to request their summer authorization.

Here are a few things parents can do in the Parent Portal: 

  • View child care authorizations
  • Schedule an appointment for an authorization request (Milwaukee County only)
  • Request a new authorization or make changes to a current authorization
  • Check the balance on their MyWIChildCare EBT card and track their payments
  • Sign up to receive a text message alert on their cell phone when they have a new message in the Parent Portal
  • Track all authorization requests entered in the Parent Portal using the Track My Requests button

Please consider posting the summer child care reminder flyer (Milwaukee County only) where parents will see it or share it in your parent emails or monthly newsletter!

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.

  • Supporting Home Language in Early Childhood
    • Maintaining a child's home language is not just important—it is essential. Home language serves as a valuable asset that educators, families, and communities can embrace, as it significantly contributes to children's personal, social, emotional, and academic growth.
    • Live session | Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 12- 1:30 p.m.
    • Register through the Wisconsin Registry | Registration closes on May 31, 2026.
    • Questions? Contact Maria Matrak at YoungStar Connect.
  • Madison College Early Childhood Educators Conference/Conferencia de Educación Infantil
    • Please join us for Madison College’s Early Childhood Educators Conference, Relationships, Resilience, & Growth: Supporting Every Child’s Journey.
    • Full-day ECE conference | English and Spanish tracks
    • Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    • Madison College-Goodman South Campus | 2429 Perry St., Madison, Wisconsin
    • Cost: $40 (includes lunch)
    • Register online
    • Questions? Please contact Mallory Braam at mbraam@madisoncollege.edu