Benefits of Regulated Child Care

CCR&R Services:  Once regulated, you business will receive a variety of support from Childcaring.

• Child Care Referrals: Your business will be added to our database to share with parents looking for child care.
• Technical Assistance:  We are here for you!  Childcaring staff are only a phone, email, or visit away. Contact our team with questions you have pertaining to early childhood.  
• Professional Growth & Networking: Attend one of our training events, sign up for our listserv’s and quarterly newsletter, or participate in support groups.  We are here to help continue your education and development as early childhood professionals. 

Child Care Counts: All regulated programs are eligible to apply. These funds will be distributed through different categories, targeting the challenges early care and education providers are facing such as: Access to Quality Care; Workforce Recruitment and Retention; Inclusive Spaces. 

YoungStar (YS): Once regulated, your business is eligible to participate in YoungStar, Wisconsin's quality rating and improvement system.  

Child Care Subsidy: Once regulated and participating in YoungStar, your business is eligible to accept families receiving Wisconsin Shares child care assistance. You may also be eligible to participate in other local programs, such as Good Start Grants.

Child & Adult Care Food Program: Once regulated, your business is eligible to join the CACFP to be reimbursed for the meals and snacks you serve in your program.

Understanding Regulation – Wisconsin State Law

Anyone providing care and supervision for four (4) or more children, under age 7 years, for less than 24 hours a day must be licensed by the Department of Children and Families.

Your Child Care – Is it Legal?  Find out more information here. 

Certified family child care provides care in the providers own home. This type of regulation allows you to care for 1 to 3 unrelated children under age 7. The maximum group size for certification is 6 children.

Childcaring provides certification in the following counties: Adams, Lincoln, Marquette, and Portage. Contact us for more information on starting a certified child care program.

If you reside outside of the counties above, contact your local certification agency for assistance on starting a certified program.

Additional Resources:

• DCF 202
• Group Size Estimator
• Training Requirements
• Background Check Requirements
• Forms & Publications
• WI Child Care Certification (DCF)

Licensed Family Child Care provides care in the providers own home. This type of regulation allows you to care for 4 to 8 children, depending on the age of the children in care. The maximum group size for licensed child care is 8, including the providers own children under 7 and any additional children over 7.

If you are interested in becoming a licensed family child care provider you will need to request a Child Care Licensing Inquiry Packet. You can request this packet to be mailed to you, for a fee, by filling out this form. This information is also available online by clicking here and scrolling down to Family Child Care – DCF 250 Inquiry Packet Materials.

Childcaring provides free pre-licensing assistance to anyone who is interested in becoming a licensed family child care provider within our service delivery area.

To begin fill out this form to begin working with a pre-licensing consultant. During your pre-licensing process you are eligible for 6 hours of consultation.  You may receive the following:

Licensed Group Child Care usually takes place in a commercial building. This type of regulation allows you to care for 9 or more children depending on the space available. Children are typically group together by ages, and staff must maintain staff-to-child rations and maximum group sizes based on the age of the children.

If you are interested in opening a group child care center you will need to request a Child Care Licensing Inquiry Packet. You can request this packet to be mailed to you, for a fee, by filling out this form. This information is also available online by clicking here and scrolling down to Group Child Care – DCF 251 Inquiry Packet Materials.

Childcaring provides free pre-licensing assistance to anyone who is interested in opening a licensed group child care program within our service delivery area.

To begin fill out this form to begin working with a pre-licensing consultant. During your pre-licensing process you are eligible for 8 hours of consultation.  You may receive the following: