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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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 9 a.m.-5 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 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Tuesday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  
P: 1-608-690-3025  
 

Northern Region YoungStar Office - Rhinelander  
33 West Davenport  
Rhinelander, WI 54501  
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

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:

• WECA
• The Wisconsin Registry (The Registry)
• Wisconsin Afterschool Network (WAN)
• Reach Dane
• Erikson Institute
   

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.