The Wisconsin Budget and It's Affect on Child Care

The budget is finally done here in Wisconsin, and it's a mixed brew for children and child care providers. While the quality rating system was not approved, direction for creating a more detailed and informed system for implementing the rating scale was given to DCF. The Early Learning Coalition (of which I am a member, representing the WFCCA) was successful in stopping legislation meant to be cost saving for the WI Shares program, but detrimental to providers. Instead, legislators adopted the "Coalition Package" which provides cost savings, but is more user friendly for providers.

To get more information on the budget and it's affect on child care in Wisconsin visit the website for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families at: www.wccf.org

Policy Brief: Economic Benefits of Investing in Early Learning

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families has just released an excellent policy brief on the economic benefits of investing in early learning. While created in Wisconsin, this document can be beneficial to any group across the nation looking for materials to present to legislators to inform them of the importance of investing in early learning.

The policy brief explores:
-the importance of early brain development
-the extraordinary research on the positive effects of high-quality early childhood programs,
-the strong return on investment from early childhood interventions, and
-implications for public policy.

To read the brief, visit: http://www.wccf.org/pdf/great_start_investment_ece.pdf

Preparing for H1N1 and the Upcoming Flu Season

The President's advisor on Homeland Security circulated an email to providers, teachers, parents, and other interested parties in regards to the upcoming flu season. They have posted information on their website to help these parties to protect children from the flu, in particular to be prepared for defense against the H1N1 Influenza. To learn how to be prepared and to help promote public awareness of this important issue visit: www.Flu.gov.

Wisconsin Shares Audit Results

If you are a Wisconsin child care provider you are probably aware of the Milwaukee Sentinel articles this past spring exposing two providers in Milwaukee for committing fraud against the system. These series of fraud articles led to a quick formation of an audit committee to look over the program integrity and find the errors that allowed such fraud and misuse to occur. The results of that audit are now available.

The Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau reports that 400 cases were reviewed during the audit and they estimate that providers received $4.0 million in improper subsidy payments as a result of errors or potentially fraudulent reporting.

As it is likely these findings will result in changes to the system, it is important for all providers to be aware of this report. To read a summary and the full report visit: http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab