• Wisconsin child care facilities are regulated through the state's Department of Children and Families.happy baby boy image by Galina Barskaya from Fotolia.com
  
  Wisconsin licenses and regulates child care facilities through the Department of Children and Families. This department regulates all aspects of child care provision in Wisconsin from the licensing of care providers, facilities and equipment. In addition, Wisconsin operates a program providing subsidies to low-income parents in need of child care assistance.
  
  

Basic Licensing Requirements

• No person may be compensated to provide child care and supervision for four or more children, under the age of 7, for less than 24 hours in a day unless licensed. Relatives and schools are exempted from this requirement. Wisconsin recognizes two types of licensed care: licensed family child care centers, which provide for up to eight children (often in a home setting), and the larger licensed group child care centers, which provide care to nine or more children (usually not located in a residence). Child care centers are regulated through one of five regional licensing offices.
  
  

Certification Information for Caretakers

• Providers must undergo a background check and be certified as a child care provider. A person that has been convicted of a serious crime on or after her 12th birthday, has been found to have abused or neglected a client, or convicted of having abused or neglected a child cannot be licensed. In addition, any pending criminal matters similar to those above will cause a denial of renewal of certification. In addition to an initial review for certification, certified caretakers are required to update licensing and certification information on an ongoing basis.
  
  

Complaints

• If a parent is concerned about the care a child is receiving in a facility, complaints may be filed with the licensing office responsible for the region where the facility is located. Complaints may be made via telephone, email or in writing, and may be filed anonymously. Program rules require all complaints to be investigated. A final report is created and is attached to the provider's file for future reference.