TIPS - Table of Contents

A Wisconsin family child care license allows you to care for up to eight children at a time, depending on their ages and the space you have available. Read the information which follows, to determine whether your residence will meet licensing requirements. You will also have to meet training requirements, or be willing to enroll in a course. Members of your household, age 10 and older, will have to meet legal requirements. (See the section on "background checks".)

To purchase a Family Day Care Inquiry Packet, send a check or money order for $10.00 payable to "Division of Children and Family Services", or "DHFS" to your regional licensing office:

Northern Regional Licensing Office
2187 N. Stevens St., STE C
Rhinelander, WI 54501

Northeastern Regional Licensing Office
200 N. Jefferson St. Ste. 411
Green Bay, WI 54301

Southern Regional Licensing Office

1 West Wilson Street, Room 655

P.O. Box 8497

Madison, WI 53708-8947

Southeastern Regional Licensing Office
141 NW Barstow, Room 104
Waukesha, WI 53188-3789

Western Regional Licensing Office
610 Gibson St., Suite 2
Eau Claire, WI 54701-3687

Read the pink rule book you receive in your packet. If you wish to proceed, complete the worksheet which is in the packet, and send it to the Wisconsin Child Care Improvement Project (WCCIP) at the address which appears on the worksheet.

You will be assigned a Technical Advisor from WCCIP who will assist you by phone, mail, and a visit to your home. You will also be sent a video packet which covers many of the required steps to becoming a licensed family day care provider.

Your advisor will help you prepare your:

• Family day care policies
• Home
• Application

Your completed application, along with other required items, should be sent in to the licensing office 60 days prior to when you hope to receive your license. It may go more quickly, depending on the work load of the technical advisor and licensing specialist you are assigned to. The first license issued to a family day care provider is a six month probationary license. Cost: $15.12 plus $8.00 for each person age 10 and up who lives in your home, including yourself, and for any other such person who will have regular contact with the children. This covers the cost to the State of running background investigation records checks. The cost for a two year license is $60.50.  You are required to meet all training requirements by the end of the probationary license period. (See the section on "Training Requirements".)

REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO YOUR HOME OR FACILITY

In order to provide care on a lower level, more than six feet below grade, there must be a second exit from that level - either a second stairway, or an exit door in an "exposed" basement, or a legal exit window (one at least 20" by 24", that can be opened from the inside). Spiral stairways may not be used. The two exits should be located in different areas of the basement, that is, the exit window should not be next to the stairway.

If children are cared for on an upper level, more than six feet above grade, a window (as described above) may serve as the second exit. It is not required to have a fire escape or balcony.

If any children under age two are cared for on an upper or lower level (as described above) there must be interconnected smoke alarms on every level of the building, and no more than two such children may be cared for on these levels by one provider.

Fencing at least 48" high is required around outdoor play space whenever any potential hazard is present. "Hazards" include:

• Proximity to high speed and/or high volume traffic
• Sharp change in elevation
• Presence of water on or near property
  • Stream
  • Lake
  • Pool, 15 inches or more in depth
  • Hot tub (unless protected with a visible, locked rigid cover or located in a room or area not used for day care which has access controlled by use of a visibly locked door).
    
• In the absence of definite hazards, a licensor has the option of allowing the provider to sign a "stipulation" promising to be outside directly supervising the children at all times.
  

 

Interior railings along stairs, balconies, etc. must be spaced no more than four inches apart.

• Netting, plexiglass panels, lattice or other materials may be used with railings spaced more widely.
• If outdoor balconies, decks or porches are used as play spaces, and are 36 inches or more above ground, these are held to the same four inch requirement.
• If children merely pass across that space to reach the playground, this would not be imposed.

 

Required safety factors:

• Facility must have a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A-10BC Smoke detectors are required on each level
• Cribs and playpens with wooden slats must have no more than 2-3/8 inches of space between slats
• High chairs must have safety straps that go between legs and around waist

 

Smoking is not permitted anywhere in licensed space, indoor or outdoors, when children are present in care.
This includes:

• Rooms used by children
• Bathrooms
• Halls
• Entryways
• Lobbies

 

If the day care program is located in a building other than your primary residence, local zoning and building requirements may be imposed.

• Check with local officials
• Renters need to be sure the owner will allow operation of a child care business

 

Factors which may result in delay or denial of a license include (but are not limited to):

• Broken steps or rails
• Cracked or broken glass
• Torn carpeting
• Holes in the ground, floor or porch
• Toy boxes without safety hinges
• Unprotected basement stairwells or window wells
• Failure to have references reply to "request for information"
• Failure to pass the background check

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Family day care providers are required to have 40 hours of training in early childhood education.
This may be obtained through:

• Technical colleges
• Four year colleges
• Independent study (correspondence) courses
• Agencies approved by the Bureau of Regulation and Licensing

Effective September 1, 2003, names of DHFS approved non-credit courses that meet entry-level requirements have changed. Courses completed (or begun) prior to September 1, will continue to be accepted to meet the entry level training requirements. The new course names are as follows:

Introduction to the Child Care Profession plus Fundamentals of Family Child Care, together, have replaced the 40-hour Family Child Care class. Some training agencies split the "Introduction" course into Module A and Module B, so that "A" meets certification requirements and "A+B" meets licensing requirements.

All course work must be approved by the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS)

Effective April 7, 2007, all licensed family child care providers will be required to have training in Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Providers who have completed their training prior to beginning the business of licensed family day care, get off to a more well prepared start. However, regulations require only that training be completed by the end of the six month probationary license period.

If you have had a three credit course in child development, or a similar broad-based course specific to early childhood education, this will fulfill the requirement.

If you have taken a 40 hour course to work in a group day care program, such as "Early Childhood 1", you have met the 40 hour training requirement

In order to be licensed to care for children younger than 1 year of age, you must have completed either "Introduction to the Child Care Profession" + "Fundamentals of Family Child Care" or "Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care." This ensures that all who care for infants receive SIDS prevention information before they begin caring for infants.  

If you have had a 3-credit course in child psychology, child development, or a similar broad-based course specific to early childhood education, or if you have taken an entry level class to work in a group child care center, this will fulfill the "Introduction to the Child Care Profession" requirement.

If any child in care (other than your own) will be younger than 2 years of age, you are required to take "Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care." If you will only care for children age 12 months and older, then you have the period of your 6-month probationary period to get this training.

Training Information available by contacting:

• Click here for a current list of Wisconsin DHFS approved home study courses.
• Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies may have information on other local sources of training that are DHFS approved. Call toll-free 888-713-KIDS (5437) to connect with your CCR&R.

Continuing Education Requirements: After completing the six month probationary license period and basic training requirements, you will be required to earn at least 15 hours of continuing education each year. This may be obtained by:

• Taking courses/workshops offered at conferences
• Participating in trainings offered through provider support groups
• Independent reading or video viewing (Up to 5 hours each year)

Keep a record of your participation. This will be reviewed periodically by your licensing specialist.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

All household members, age 10 and older, must submit Background Information Disclosure forms, along with appropriate fees, as part of the completed license application. The licensing office will then initiate a background check through the WI Department of Justice. Other people who may have regular contact with the children, such as an employee of the licensee, must also submit to a background check; this is the responsibility of the licensee, once the license is issued.

If any such individual has a record of conviction of crime(s) substantially related to the care of children, a license will be denied. It is possible, under certain circumstances and with particular crimes, to request a review to determine if "rehabilitation" has been achieved. Other convictions result in a "permanent bar". If you have concern that an individual in your household may cause your license to be denied, you may contact your regional licensing office for more information.

NUMBER OF CHILDREN YOU MAY CARE FOR

The number of children in care may never exceed eight, under family day care licensing rules. This number includes any of the provider’s own children who are younger than age seven. If the distribution of children exceeds the number which may be served by one provider, an additional qualified provider must be present. (See Chart below.)

Maximum Number Of Children In Family Day Care Per Provider

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Wisconsin Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R)
Phone: 888-713-KIDS (5437)
Email: wiccrr@athenet.net
Web: www.wisconsinccrr.org

Every county is served by a CCR&R, which maintains a database on all regulated care in the counties it serves, and helps connect parents seeking care with programs which can provide that care. The CCR&R can also provide information on:

• Local codes
• Rates
• Supply/demand
• Training opportunities

Wisconsin Child Care Improvement Project (WCCIP)
Phone: 800-366-3556
Web: www.wccip.org
The WCCIP Infoline is staffed 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays
WCCIP offers technical assistance on:

• Licensing issues
• Accreditation
• Topics related to child development and regulated care

Wisconsin Child Care Information Center (CCIC)
Phone: 800-362-7353
Email: ccic@dpi.state.wi.us 
Web: www.dpi.state.wi.us/ccic
CCIC offers a wealth of materials on:

• Policies
• Contracts
• Curriculum
• Environments
• Health/safety
• Child Development
  

 

WCCIP • 2109 S. Stoughton Road, Madison 53716 • Ph  800.366.3556 • Fx 608.224.6178
These tip sheets developed by WCCIP, March 1998 with funding from the WI Dept. of WFD, Office of Child Care, and DHFS