June 18 Child Care Provider Updates Get Ready for the Final June Child Care Bridge Payments Update Period The final update/application period starts soon: June 20-28 2026. Organize your records now so you are ready for the final 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 Submitting Your Child Care Bridge Payments Application Guide 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. 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. Spending Deadline Reminders Child Care Bridge Payments February funds must be spent by July 4, 2026.. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Child Care Payments Support Center by 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. Family Child Care Providers Must Retest for Radon Every Two Years Family child care providers may need to retest for radon and provide documentation to their assigned licensing specialist. Since this rule was established in March 2023, please review and submit a new test to your licensing specialist. Please review page 20 of DCF 250.06(2)(n)(5)- Continuous Testing. Update Your Prices in the Provider Portal When is the last time you checked and updated your prices in the Provider Portal? The prices you enter are part of what determines families’ subsidy amount. Please update your program’s prices regularly to ensure accuracy. For more information about updating your CCPP account, review the Child Care Provider Portal Information webpage. If you have questions about updating your prices, contact your local agency Fake Check Scam Targets Child Care Providers The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently published a consumer alert about a fake check scam targeting child care providers. The article suggests that some child care providers may be receiving a message from someone who says they need child care and will send a check in advance, but it is likely a scammer trying to trick you into sending them money. Read the entire article on the FTC website. Reminder: DCF is Hiring for a Southeastern Licensing/Certification Specialist Are you passionate about supporting the health, safety, and quality care for young children? If you're an experienced child care teacher or early care educator looking to expand your impact beyond the classroom, consider joining our team as a Child Care Licensing Specialist with the Bureau of Early Care Regulation. The Division of Early Care and Education (DECE), Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR), is currently recruiting to fill two (2) Licensing/Certification Specialist positions in the Southeastern Region headquartered in Milwaukee, WI (635 N. 26th Street). While this position is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, it is comprised primarily of field work requiring on-site, in-person visits approximately 3-4 days per week. Successful candidates must have the ability to travel anywhere within the region at any time; DCF has fleet vehicles available for use for required travel. Hybrid work options will be discussed further during the interview. Come see why DCF is such a great place to work! The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 18, 2026. Learn more about this position on Wisc.Jobs. 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: Stress and Resilience: Strengthening the Well-Being of Early Childhood Professionals This Spanish-only course provides early childhood educators with strategies to recognize stress factors and explore ways to strengthen resilience in both their personal and professional lives. The training aims to support educators in overcoming challenges more effectively and promoting a healthier, more resilient mindset. Live session | Friday, July 1, 2026 | 12-1:30 p.m. Register through the Wisconsin Registry. Registration closes on June 27, Questions? Contact Paola Nunez-Garcia (pnunezgarcia@youngstarconnect.com). This is presented in Spanish. There will be no English interpretation available. New Credential: Nature Based Early Childhood Education Interested in learning more about outdoor learning? Register for this nature based early childhood credential! Explore how nature can become a powerful part of early learning. This advanced technical certificate is designed for early childhood professionals who want to deepen their understanding of nature-based education and bring it into their everyday teaching. This credential includes four 3-credit courses and is offered with support from the Wisconsin Registry. Register today! Registration deadline is fall 2026. For more information, please contact Stef Bugasch at bugasch@dhs.wisconsin.gov. Visit the Western Technical College website to register or learn more about the program.
