July 16 Child Care Provider Updates Update on June Child Care Bridge Payments We are providing an update on the final Child Care Bridge Payments due to the payment processing error that occurred. Payment Date Payments will be disbursed on July 16. New payment letters will be posted in the Child Care Provider Portal on July 17. If you receive your payments by direct deposit, you should see your funds available on July 17. However, in some cases, it can take up to seven (7) business days from the date of the payment letter, depending on your bank’s normal processing timeline. If you receive your payments by check, it may take up to 14 business days from the date of your completed W-9. The spending deadline for this payment has been extended to November 14, 2026 due to this delay. Payment Amounts The Wisconsin state budget provided $110 million for Child Care Bridge Payments, and we’re committed to paying out every last dollar of that. We have been closely monitoring fluctuations in monthly payment amounts due to number of applications, and changes in children and staff included in applications. Demand for the program is high, and the final calculation of June payments required a downward adjustment in order to remain within the allocated funding levels. The updated payment calculations ensure that all available funds have been spent within the required timeline, and updated per-child and per-staff amounts can be found on our payments webpage. We know how much effort you put into your work, and we fully understand that unexpected changes like this, in addition to the end of Child Care Bridge Payments, create real operational and financial challenges for your program. Please know that we did not take these adjustments lightly. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Child Care Payments Support Center by email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call to leave a message for a support center specialist at 608-535-3650, M-F, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Licensing and Certification Rule Revision Resources are Now Available! New licensing and certification rules will go into effect on August 1. These new rules make changes related to Wisconsin Act 15, also known as the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, and bring Wisconsin into compliance with Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) requirements. To support providers in implementing these new rules: DCF has created on-demand e-learnings that are now available in English and Spanish on the Child Care Rulemaking Projects webpage under the Resources and Training header. We encourage providers to complete the training(s) for their program type to be prepared for the rules going into effect on August 1. The Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR) has created memos that summarize the rule changes and offer additional resources for providers. These memos have been emailed to child care programs and are available on the Child Care Licensing and Certification Memos webpage. The webpage and memos are available in English and Spanish. BECR Memo 2026-01 – Licensed Family Child Care BECR Memo 2026-02 – Licensed Groups and Programs Established or Contracted by Public Schools BECR Memo 2026-03 – Licensed Day Camps BECR Memo 2026-04 – Certified Family Child Care See the Child Care Rulemaking Project webpage for more information about the new rules. If you have any questions, please contact your regional licensing office or certification agency. Tuesday Talks – Join Us in July Tuesday Talks with DECE are held the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next webinar is Tuesday, July 21 at 1:30 p.m. and DCF Secretary Jeff Pertl will join us for remarks on the ending of Child Care Bridge Payments, in addition, we will be discussing the upcoming Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) Revisions. Visit the DCF Tuesday Talks with DECE webpage to access the Zoom link and calendar invitation for the 2026 Tuesday Talks series. Ensure Your Child Care Provider Portal Staff Information is Accurate Child care providers are reminded to regularly update their program’s information in the Child Care Provider Portal (CCPP) to ensure the individuals listed include only current or prospective employees or household members. DCF conducts ongoing compliance monitoring based on information entered in the Provider Portal, so accuracy is important. Note: Removing individuals from the Registry classroom staff does not remove them from the CCPP. Individuals need to be updated in both places. For more information about updating your CCPP account, review the Child Care Provider Portal Information page. If you have questions, please contact your licensing or certification specialist. You can also contact the Child Care Background Unit by email at DCFPlicBECRCBU@wisconsin.gov or by calling 608-422-7400. 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. Child Care Foundational Training – Parents Place Ready to begin or grow your child care career? Register now for our daytime Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher Visit the Parents Place website for schedules and registration. Please contact Ann-Marie St John with any questions or call 262-549-5575. ECHC Podcast and Webinar: What's Going on with the Childhood Vaccine Schedule? Podcast: The Early Childhood Health Consultation Program (ECHS) is back! The latest Teachers, Toddler, and Tissues Podcast is posted. What’s Going On with the Childhood Vaccine Schedule? We're talking about what ECE teachers need to know, who's in charge, what's available, and how to talk to families who have questions or are confused about getting their kids immunized. Webinar | Thursday, July 23 | 1-2 p.m. | via Zoom Dipesh Navsaria will talk about what hasn't changed, what has changed, and where to find reliable, accurate, and up-to-date information. We will share practical tips on how to talk to families who have questions or are confused about getting their kids immunized! Currently, registry credit for the webinar is pending. We hope you will join us! Register for the webinar today! Virtual: Planning Your Physical Environment to Reduce Challenging Behaviors Review key elements of the physical, social, and temporal environments that best support young children. Participants will evaluate their physical environment and conduct an audit on two current learning centers of their choice. To get the most out of this training, YoungStar Connect highly recommends you come with images or a diagram of your environment. Live session | Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Register through the Wisconsin Registry | Registration closes on July 24, 2026. Questions? Contact Kalli Leutenegger. Northeastern Tour of Centers The Tour of Centers provides the opportunity for child care providers to explore unique programs in the community and gather fresh ideas for classroom arrangements, wall displays, materials, resources, organization, and more! This year’s tour highlights four programs in Oshkosh and two programs in Winneconne. Participants can earn 2 hours of continuing education credit from this event by visiting at least three tour locations. To register or learn more about the Tour of Centers, please visit Child Care Resource and Referral's website. View the tour flyer for complete details. Thursday, August 13 | 5:45-8:30 p.m. | Oshkosh and Winneconne Questions? Contact Liz at Fox Valley CCR&R.
