June 25 Child Care Provider Updates

Final June Child Care Bridge Payments Update Period Closes Soon!

Time is running out to complete required updates on your final June Child Care Bridge Payments application. 

The deadline is Sunday, June 28 at 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

The Child Care Bridge Payments application is available in the Child Care Provider Portal. See the Application Guide for information about submitting your first 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

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.
  • Child Care Bridge Payments March funds must be spent by August 8, 2026

See the CCBP home webpage for the entire list of spending deadlines and mark them in your calendar.

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.

Quick Access to the Staff-To-Child Ratio Calculator on Your Devices

We heard your feedback! Many providers shared that they would love an app for the staff-to-child ratio calculator. While a dedicated app is not currently available, there’s an easy way to get the same convenience by adding the calculator directly to your phone or tablet’s home screen.

Check out these microlearning guides linked below for step-by-step instructions. As a bonus, these same steps can be used to create a home screen shortcut for almost any website you visit frequently. These guides are also available on the Staff-to-Child Ratios Calculators and the Child Care Rulemaking webpages.

Provider Portal Update – Program Integrity Communications

Effective July 1, 2026, DCF is implementing a new communication feature within the Provider Portal. Program Integrity investigators will have the ability to upload documents directly to the Provider Portal for providers to review. This enhancement provides an additional, secure method for sharing program integrity-related correspondence and documentation.

What You Need to Do

To receive program integrity communications through the Provider Portal, you must update your communication preferences and select this option within the Provider Portal. Please review your portal settings and opt in if you would like to receive Program Integrity correspondence electronically through the portal. Read the instructions for updating your communication preferences on the DCF website.

Please contact the Wisconsin Shares Help Desk at childcare@wisconsin.gov with any questions. 

Wisconsin Shares Program Integrity Training for Providers

DCF offers free Wisconsin Shares program integrity training for Wisconsin child care providers! View the video and training booklet to stay up to date on the latest information.

See the Wisconsin Shares Provider webpage for links to all trainings, frequently asked questions, and much more! For questions about Wisconsin Shares policies, please contact your local agency.

Reminder: Child Care Foundational Trainings and AHT Transition

DCF announced in March that beginning July 1, 2026, the Child Care Foundational Trainings (CCFTs) and the Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) Prevention Training will be moving to The Professional Development Network (PDN), a program of the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System (WCWPDS) at UW-Milwaukee.

All CCFT and AHT course registration and online content will transition from the Wisconsin Registry to PDN. Users can access the PDN training calendar to search and register for CCFTs.

As a reminder, the course hour requirements are also changing after DCF received feedback on the revised trainings. Effective July 1, 2026, the 50-hour courses will be reduced to 45 hours, and the minimum 15-hour face-to-face requirement is reduced to 10 hours. Fundamentals of Family Child Care will stay the same.

See our Child Care Foundational Training webpage for complete details and FAQs. Any questions may be directed to DCFDECECCTraining@wisconsin.gov.

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!

Outbreak of Infant Botulism Linked to Powdered Infant Formula, June 2026

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health officials in several states, the California Department of Public Health Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are investigating a multistate outbreak of the infant botulism linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. As of June 23, there have been no confirmed cases of infant botulism linked to this outbreak in Wisconsin.

Parents and caregivers should stop using all Nara Organics infant formula immediately and throw away or return any unopened cans. Opened cans of Nara Organics infant formula should be stored in a safe place for potential testing if symptoms (that is, poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression) develop.

This investigation is ongoing. Visit the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) webpages for more information and to stay up to date.