Report Child Care Fraud

If you suspect Child Care Fraud, be a part of the solution. You may remain anonymous. Please fill out the Child Care Fraud Form, or email dcfmbchildcarefraud @wisconsin.gov.

Media Contact

(608) 422-7800
dcfmedia@wisconsin.gov

Report a Child Care Concern or Complaint

If you have a concern about something going on in a child care facility or you suspect child abuse, neglect or exploitation at a child care facility, please use the drop-down menu on the Tell Us How We Are Doing page to fill out the appropriate complaint form.

Administering YoungStar Services

youngstar Wisconsin's Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System

Información en español

Administering Services for the YoungStar Program

The YoungStar program is Wisconsin's quality rating improvement system and is currently being administered by Shine Early Learning. The contract awarded to Shine is for two years with multiple opportunities for renewal.

Shine has created a local team of coaches, raters, and trainers that are collectively called YoungStar Connect. YoungStar Connect provides and manages all YoungStar services, such as individualized and group-based coaching, on-demand resources and live training, ratings, and a help desk to answer your questions.

For more information, check out the new YoungStar Connect website!

Webinar Available

YoungStar Connect recorded a listening session to provide information and answer questions about how they will be administering the YoungStar program. The recording of this webinar is available on the YoungStar Connect webpage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Shine Early Learning?

Shine Early Learning has worked with individual early childhood providers, states, municipalities and school districts to implement proven practices that deliver positive results for children, families and communities. For the past 10 years, Shine has built a track record of supporting early childhood education systems and providers. Today Shine contracts with the states of Indiana, Delaware and North Carolina, the city of Philadelphia, the New York City Department of Education and the Philadelphia School District, as well as more than 40 other organizations, universities and companies, to provide ongoing training and technical assistance to early childhood education providers.

What is Shine Early Learning's role in YoungStar?

In November 2021, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) issued its required Request for Proposal (RFP) for the administration of the YoungStar Quality Rating and Improvement System. Following an extensive process, the department issued an intent to award the contract to Shine Early Learning.

Shine Early Learning has put together a team of local staff (YoungStar Connect) that will provide consultation and coaching to providers, complete ratings based on DCF’s YoungStar Evaluation Criteria, offer trainings, and locate other supports and resources available in Wisconsin.

For effective statewide implementation of YoungStar, the YoungStar Connect team will also manage and evaluate processes and outcomes, coordinate professional development for YoungStar staff, and assure quality of services by joining consultants, coaches, and raters periodically on visits.

What roles will Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA) and the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Network play in the future?

SFTA may no longer hold the YoungStar contract, but they, along with Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, will continue to provide:

  • Resources and referrals for families and providers
  • Trainings and technical assistance for families and providers
  • Free foundational trainings
  • Support for tribal nations
  • Outreach and recruitment for certification and pre-licensing
  • Project Growth activities - including Partner Up! and Business Child Care Advocates
Are there any changes to what programs are being rated on?

YoungStar Connect staff will continue using the current YoungStar evaluation criteria to complete your rating.  Any changes to the YoungStar rating criteria will not occur until early 2025 at the earliest.

Who from YoungStar Connect will be working with my program?

YoungStar Connect has put together a local team of consultants, coaches, and raters that are specific to Wisconsin. A YoungStar Connect consultant will be assigned to your program and work with you to determine the services/support you would like for your program. If you are unsure who your consultant is, please call YoungStar Connect at: 1-833-YNG-STAR or 1-833-964-7827 or reach out to your Local YoungStar Connect office.

To find out more about the YoungStar Connect team, visit the YoungStar Connect Team webpage!

What options will my program have in terms of requesting support from YoungStar Connect?

Providers will be able to select onsite consultation, virtual consultation, group consultation with other providers, and/or access to an online resource site. Each provider will be asked to decide which type, how much, and which delivery method (virtual or onsite) of consultation they prefer. These decisions will be done along with your YoungStar Connect consultant and be specific to your program's needs.

Where are the YoungStar Connect regional offices located?

In addition to providing local supports across the state, YoungStar Connect will have offices in each licensing region. These offices will provide space for providers to attend trainings, meet with coaches, and more.

Offices are located in the following cities:

Western Region YoungStar Office - Eau Claire
505 S Dewey Street, Suite 208
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Hours: Tuesday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Thursday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
P: 1-888-585-5958

Northeastern Region YoungStar Office - Appleton
532 W College Avenue - Suite 102
Appleton, WI 54911
Hours: Tuesday 9 a.m. -1 p.m.; Wednesday 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
P: 1-920-644-5356

Southeastern Region YoungStar Office - Milwaukee
1433 North Water Street - Suite 400
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Hours: Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
P: 1-414-312-5888

Southern Region YoungStar Office - Madison
2908 Marketplace Drive - Suite 103
Fitchburg, WI 53719
Hours: Monday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Tuesday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.; Wednesday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Thursday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
P: 1-608-690-3025

Northern Region YoungStar Office - Eagle River
221 South First Street
Eagle River, WI 54521
Hours: Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.;  Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
P: 1-888-653-2351

The statewide phone number for YoungStar Connect is: 1-833-YNG-STAR or 1-833-964-7827.

Email: info@youngstarconnect.com
Website: YoungStarConnect.com

What connections will YoungStar Connect have with local, state and national organizations?

To integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and to increase responsiveness to community needs and engagement, YoungStar Connect is partnering with long-standing and well-known local, state and national early childhood and out-of-school-time organizations:

With Athena Communications, Shine and its partners will also gather feedback from families to identify community-level priorities for early childhood education and school-age care programs.

Additional Questions?

YoungStar Connect can be reached using the following:

Phone: 1-833-YNG-STAR or 1-833-964-7827
Email: info@youngstarconnect.com
Website: YoungStarConnect.com
You can also continue to email questions to: youngstar@wisconsin.gov