As child care professionals, you have the opportunity to make a lifetime of difference in the lives of children and their families. We appreciate your work and dedication to our youngest learners. Childcaring is here to help you become successful in your child care business.
Update your Program Profile ~ Business Information Form (BIF)
Childcaring uses a computer based referral service to aid families in their search for child care. The information used to match families to a child care provider is obtain through a BIF.
We ask all child care providers to fill out a Business Information Form (BIF) once a year. This helps us to make sure that parents receive the most up-to-date information on child care programs. Our new system allows you to make updates online to items such as openings or rates as they happen. As soon as you click “submit” on the last page, your update is complete
Training & Professional Development
By attending training and professional development opportunities, you are demonstrating your continued commitment to the importance of learning and child development.
Visit our Training Calendar for trainings and professional development opportunities.
Childcaring Training Policies
Registration: Participants must register and pay training fees to attend Childcaring trainings. Childcaring utilizes Wisconsin Registry platform to sign up and pay online. Some trainings are not eligible for online payment. Please contact Childcaring to register when noted.
In-Person Trainings: Participants must be present for the entire training to receive credit for training, from start to finish. Children may not attend trainings. Childcaring will provide necessary materials needed for in-person trainings. As a participant you are encouraged to participate in group activities and discussions.
Online: Childcaring uses ECExplorer for online trainings. Online trainings are self-paced for participants to complete within a certain timeframe. As a participant you will listen to recorded content and have activities and discussions to be completed to receive credit for the course. Participants not completing the required work will not receive credit. Childcaring staff will facilitate the training, participate in discussions, review coursework, and answer questions. To learn more about how to access ECExplorer click here.
Virtual: Virtual trainings are presented live with Childcaring staff on a specific day and time through an online platform. Virtual trainings are just like in person trainings, only through technology. To achieve optimal experience, you must have a reliable internet connection and technology to support video and audio (camera and microphone). You will receive a link from Childcaring staff via email prior to the start date. As a participant you are encouraged to participate in group activities and discussions using your camera and microphone (please limit background noise and other distractions). Participants that complete the training will be entered into the Wisconsin Registry, when applicable.
Attendance: Participants must be present for the entire training to receive credit for the training (from start to finish), this includes multi-day trainings and virtual. If a participant misses part of a multi-day training, they will not receive full credit/certificates or be entered as complete in the Wisconsin Registry. Participants can receive a certificate for continuing education hours for the portion that was attended.
Wisconsin Registry Credit: Participants that complete and attend the entire training will be entered into the Wisconsin Registry, when applicable. You will not receive a barcode, instead you can log into your Wisconsin Registry profile and view your Training Log. A statement of credit can be requested when Childcaring receives your completed training survey.
Cancellations: Trainings cancelled by Childcaring will be decided no later than 3:00 PM on the day of the training, unless an emergency arises. Participants will be notified via email and/or phone. If a training is cancelled by Childcaring, registered participants will receive a full refund via the original payment method. Payment may also be transferred to another Childcaring training. Cancellations by participants prior to the training start date may be eligible for a refund, however will be subject to a processing fee. Cancellations after the training are handled on an individual basis. Certain trainings are not eligible for a refund.
The Registry
The Registry is a career level system which awards a certificate verifying that an individual has met all of the Department of Children and Families entry level training and is qualified for the position held.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood & REWARD Wisconsin
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® WISCONSIN provides higher education scholarships to professionals who work in regulated early childhood and school age care settings.
REWARD Wisconsin provides you salary supplements based on your educational attainments and longevity in the field.
Quality Child Care
YoungStar
Childcaring serves as the YoungStar regional office for our service delivery area.
High-quality child care—providing a safe, healthy place for children to learn and grow guided by dedicated professionals—can set the stage for lifelong success.
YoungStar, a program of the Department of Children and families, is Wisconsin’s child care rating and improvement system created to improve the quality of child care for WI children.
How do we do it?
- By objectively measuring child care quality. We rate thousands of child care providers, awarding up to five stars for the best quality of care.
- By giving parents an easy way to compare their local child care options and find the programs that match their family’s lifestyle, budget, and special needs.
- By supporting providers with tools and training to deliver high-quality care
- By setting a consistent standard for child care quality
To learn more about YoungStar please visit DCF’s website.
Helpful Tools
- Average Child Care Rates
- Guide to Regulated Child Care
- Meal Allowance Rates
- Civitas Strategies Early Start (formerly Tom Copeland Blog)
- Wage & Benefit Survey
