Best Practices in Inclusive Child Care: Wisconsin Prepared by Wisconsin CCR&R Network

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Child care programs and providers in Wisconsin are, by law, "inclusive" in that they may not discriminate in enrollment. The licensing statutes note that "under the state public accommodation law, s. 101.22, Stats., as well as federal statutes and regulations related to use of federal funding, and some local anti-discrimination ordinances, denying admission on the basis of race, handicap, religion or certain other characteristics may be illegal" (HFS 46, Licensing Rules for Group Day Care Centers).

However, understanding the law does not tell the entire story of the challenges facing programs and providers as they attempt to offer inclusive child care for children at all developmental levels. Among those child care centers and family child care providers who successfully offer the "best practices" in inclusive child care (whether in family child care or in a center), we find they are likely to demonstrate the following characteristics:

• Having staff with training in specific handicapping conditions.
• Having a stated program philosophy or mission statement that enrolling children with disabilities is a priority.
• Creating regular staff in-service sessions on inclusive child care.
• Preparing materials for families that especially invite children of all abilities to be enrolled.
• Having parent education programs and materials on the topic of inclusive child care.
• Having a staff development budget that encourages paid time off and training for all staff in special needs courses or workshops.
• Creating a policy of continued commitment to learning about various disabilities.
• Having a plan for physical adaptations that may be necessary to serve children with disabilities that includes fund-raising, architectural changes, and new equipment.
• Having the resources to hire someone, or having access to a free consultant, who can offer in-depth training to staff on inclusion topics.

In attempting to offer child care that is affordable, appropriate, and of high quality for children and families, there are several challenges with inclusive child care. At least in some parts of the state, centers, in particular, are affected by the current crisis in staff hiring. According to 4C/Milwaukee, inclusion policies in that community may vary, depending on who is currently on staff. Even having an experienced trainer available to staff may be diminished by the loss of experienced staff in the program. This change of staff may be due to low wages, personal life changes, or other reasons people change jobs in the child care field. Whatever the reason, the stability and training may be lost for the next group of children requiring inclusive child care. Both program and personal commitment to inclusive child care may be affected by the problems in hiring and staff turnover.

Another problematic area for offering inclusive child care is that of cost. If a child with a disability requires one-on-one staff attention, or if the physical therapy must be offered by the child care program, then the cost of care may be higher than the usual rate. It is allowable to charge more for children whose care can be documented as costing more under county reimbursement policies, if the family has been approved for subsidy under Wisconsin Shares.

In the final analysis, child care programs and providers are "at their best" when children and staff are included in all aspects of the program - with good ratios, excellent program options, training, and a welcome for all children.

Examples of "Best Practices"

Below are some examples of centers or family child care providers that exemplify the "best practices" in inclusive child care. These few examples, provided by local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies, do not capture all of the many programs and providers in the state that are rising to the challenge of offering inclusive child care, but are simply listed here as places one might contact for more information.

Name of Program/Location

Kool Kids Club, Before and After School Program 203 E. Washington Street Slinger, WI 53086 Phone: 414-644-0521 Gary Sabel, Director

Description: This program opened in 1996, and offers before and after school care for 45 children. The program is open to working with families whose children have special needs.

Kids Connection Child Care (group center) 215 Bay View Road Mukwonago, WI 53149 Phone: 414-363-2266 Linda Czarnecki, Director

Description: This group center opened in 1993, and has a total capacity for 104 children. Their staff have a lot of experience working with a variety of special needs, such as cognitive and physical disabilities, hearing impaired, and administering special medications.

New Berlin Child Care Center (group center/employer supported) 3250 South 166 St. New Berlin, WI 53151 Phone: 414-821-9373 Susan McBryde, Director

Description: This center was begun by a consortium of employers in an industrial park. The staff has had extra training and experience with cognitive and physical delays, and administering special medications. The capacity is 166 children. The center is accredited by NAEYC.

Tee Pee (Tennyson-Potosi) Child Care (group center) Box 95 109 South Main Potosi, WI 53820 Phone: 608-763-2011 Sarah Schulting, Director; Luanne Gerth, Early Childhood Teacher

Description: This program demonstrates a unique relationship between the local school district and a community-based child care center. The Special Needs Early Childhood program is housed on-site, and the staff work hard to assure that the Individual Educational Program (IEP) goals and the needs of every child are met. This school provides transportation. The Early Childhood teacher, speech and language clinician, and CESA 3 provide the specialists needed to plan for individual needs. Children ages 6 weeks through 12 years are served; the center is licensed for 62 children and 10 slots are reserved for Early Childhood Special Needs children.

Hearts N' Hands Child Care Center (group center) 1120 Cedar Street Eau Claire, WI 54703 Phone: 715-835-6187 Barb Barkley, Director

Description: The director has a background in Montessori preschool education and in 1994 began a licensed family child care program housed in a church, serving children with inclusive child care needs. When the director's daughter graduated with a degree in special education, she then applied for a group center license and added her daughter to staff. The center received a W-2 capacity building grant from the local CCR&R in 1998.

Saint Joseph's Hospital Child Care Center (group center) 611 Saint Joseph's Avenue Marshfield, WI 54449 Phone: 715-387-7555 Carol Papineau, Director

Description: This center was involved in the Very Special Arts project coordinated by CCR&R of Central Wisconsin. The center offers an inclusive child care setting for a total enrollment of 312 children. The center's full curriculum of sensory, process-oriented art projects is geared to the developmental levels of each age grouping. Saint Joseph's also offers three ý hour music classes per week, taught by a certified Yamaha Music program instructor.

Red Caboose Day Care Center (group center) 654 Williamson Street Madison, WI 53703 Phone: 608-256-1566 Wendy Rakower, Director

Description: This community-based nonprofit center has offered inclusive child care
since the early 1970's. Its space is adapted for wheelchair accessibility. The staff has a firm belief that inclusive child care is beneficial to ALL enrolled children; staff remain involved in ongoing training. The sliding fee scale of the center permits enrollment from families of diverse income levels, and the program encourages parent involvement. Key to its success with inclusive care is child-staff ratios that exceed state licensing requirements. The center is accredited both by NAEYC and the City of Madison.

Bridges Child Care (family child care) 525 Dunning Madison, WI 53704 Vic McMurray, Family Child Care Provider

Description: This licensed family child care center is located in a home with an addition especially designed for child care. Vic McMurray, nationally recognized for her implementation of a High/Scope curriculum, has a specific goal of including children with special needs, and frequently has one or more children with disabilities enrolled. Vic hires employees so that there are always two full time people, and is committed to recruiting volunteers so that ratios are exceptionally good for the children. Volunteers include university and high school students, older adults, and sometimes adults with special needs themselves. The values of this program include premier attention to ratios and compensation for care givers worthy of the parent fees. Vic serves mostly organic food and pays close attention to environmental issues which may affect the children. The program is accredited by the City of Madison.

Harmony House (group center) 4936 Buckeye Road Madison, WI 53616 Phone: 608-233-1216 Jane Robinson, Director

Description: This group child care center is housed in a private dwelling. It is licensed for 14 children; about 30% of the enrolled children have a special need and many have medical issues. There are two staff besides the director. The director has a work background serving children in a medical setting. The small setting and the high staff-child ratio are major strengths to this program. The staff work closely with children's treatment providers as part of the "multi-disciplinary" team, and visiting therapists include ALL children in activities. Staff are especially trained to support parents by openly recognizing some of the issues involved in parenting a child with special needs. Children are readily referred to appropriate resources as needed. This center is currently pursuing NAEYC accreditation.

Montessori Children's Village, Inc. 214 Sherman Avenue Wausau, WI 54401 Phone: 715-842-9540 Patti Filak, Director

Description: The director, upon enrolling a child with special needs, hires a student to come in the afternoons for additional assistance. The theory of individualized work choices for all children to see through to completion is a philosophy that helps ALL children. Children diagnosed with ADHD are taken for frequent walks/hikes outside to engage them in large muscle activity, and inside they are given opportunity for large muscle activity such as cleaning windows or cleaning tables.

Special thanks go to the following child care resource and referral agencies who submitted information about inclusive child care programs in their service delivery areas: 4C/Milwaukee; 4-C/Madison; CCR&R of Central Wisconsin (Wisconsin Rapids); Southwest Wisconsin CCR&R (Boscobel); Child Care Partnership Resource & Referral (Eau Claire); and Child Care Connection (Wausau).