DCF 250.05 Note
Note:
Introduction to the Child Care Profession is the noncredit course approved by the department to meet the entry-level training requirements for a program aide.
DCF 250.05(3)(gm)4.
4. A program aide may not be counted in the required staff-to-child ratios under Table DCF 250.055.
DCF 250.05(3)(h)
(h) No person or agency may offer non-credit child care training as specified in this subsection unless the person or agency and the course have been approved by the department. The department may at any time withdraw its approval of a non-credit course. Instructors of non-credit department-approved courses shall be approved by the department prior to teaching a course.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)(a)
Orientation of employees, volunteers, and substitutes. Each employee, volunteer, or substitute shall receive an orientation before the individual begins to work with children in care. The orientation shall be documented on a form initialed and dated by the staff person and trainer. The orientation shall cover all of the following:
DCF 250.05(4)(a)2.
2. Current arrival and departure information for each child enrolled and the names of people authorized to pick up the child.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)3.
3. A review of children's records, including emergency contact information.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)4.
4. Specific information relating to each child's health care needs, including medications, disabilities, or special health conditions.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)5.
5. If the center is licensed to care for children under one year of age, procedures to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)6.
6. An overview of the daily schedule, including meals, snacks, nap, and any information related to the eating and sleep schedules of infants and toddlers enrolled in the center.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)7.
7. A review of the center's procedures for dealing with emergencies, including natural disasters, human-caused events, food emergencies, and allergic reactions.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)9.
9. If the center is licensed to care for children between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., the plan for evacuating sleeping children.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)10.
10. The prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunizations.
DCF 250.05(4)(a)12.
12. The handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of biocontaminants. In this subdivision, “biocontaminants” includes blood, body fluids, or excretions that may spread infectious disease.
DCF 250.05 Note
Note: The licensee may use the department's form, DCF-F-CFS2255,
Staff Orientation Checklist - Family Child Care Centers, or the licensee's own form to document completion of employee orientation. The form is available at
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
DCF 250.05(4)(b)
(b)
Orientation of emergency back-up providers. Each time an emergency back-up provider cares for the children, the emergency back-up provider shall receive an orientation immediately before being left alone with the children. The orientation shall cover all of the following:
DCF 250.05(4)(b)2.
2. Arrival and departure information for each child in care, including the names of people authorized to pick up the child.
DCF 250.05(4)(b)3.
3. The location of children's files, including emergency contact information and consent for emergency medical treatment.
DCF 250.05(4)(b)5.
5. Procedures to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, if the center is licensed to care for children under one year of age.
DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.1. Each licensee and provider shall satisfactorily complete at least 15 hours of qualifying continuing education annually. Continuing education qualifies under this paragraph if it covers any of the following:
DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.c.
c. Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions.
DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.s.
s. Any other topic that promotes child development or protects children's health or safety.
DCF 250.05(4)(c)2.
2. Continuing education under subd.
1. may be obtained through attendance at training events, workshops, conferences, consultation with community resource people, web-based training, observation of child care programs, independent reading, or viewing educational materials.
DCF 250.05(4)(c)4.
4. A provider shall have documentation of the 12-month period included in the provider's training year for meeting continuing education requirements and begin a new training year in the same month each year.
DCF 250.05 Note
Note: The licensee may use either the department's form, DCF-F-CFS0053, A
Staff Continuing Education Record - Child Care Centers, a copy of the individual's learning record from the Wisconsin Registry, or the licensee's own form to document the completion of continuing education. The department's form is available at
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
DCF 250.05 History
History: CR 03-052: cr.
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; corrections in (1) (b) 2., (c), (3) (j) and (4) (b) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
CR 07-102: am. (1) (a), (1) (b) 3., 4., 5., (2) (a) 3., (b) 3. and Table, renum. (1) (b) 1. to be (1) (b) 1. a. and am., cr. (1) (b) 1. b., 6., 7., (2) (a) 10., 11., 12., 13., (3) (L), (m) and (4) (d), r. and recr. (1) (b) 2., (c) and (3) (e)
Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09; corrections in (2) (a) 11., 13., (3) (e), (m) and Table made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2008 No. 636;
EmR1918: emerg. r. and recr., eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: r. and recr.
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20;
CR 20-003: am. (2) (d) 1.
Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20;
CR 21-100: am. (1), r. and recr. (2) (a), consol. (2) (e) 1. (intro.) and a. and renum. to (2) (e) 1. and am., r. (2) (e) 1. b., am. (2) (e) 2., cr. (2) (g), am. (3) (b) 1. b., 2., cr. (3) (fm), (gm), am. (4) (a) (intro.), r. (4) (a) 8., am. (4) (c) 2., r. (4) (c) 3.
Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23.
DCF 250.055
DCF 250.055
Supervision and grouping of children. DCF 250.055(1)(a)(a) Each child shall be supervised by a provider to guide the child's behavior and activities, prevent harm, and ensure safety.
DCF 250.055(1)(b)
(b) A provider shall be awake at all times when children are in care.
DCF 250.055(1)(c)
(c) No individual provider may care for children for more than 16 hours in any 24-hour period.
DCF 250.055(1)(d)
(d) No child may be in care for more than 14 hours in any 24-hour period.
DCF 250.055(1)(f)
(f) No person under 18 years of age may be left in sole charge of the children.
DCF 250.055(1)(g)
(g) The center shall have a written plan reviewed by the department for ensuring supervision of the children in an emergency or during a provider's absence.
DCF 250.055(1)(h)
(h) A provider may not be engaged in any other activity or occupation during the hours of operation of the center when children are in care, except for daily maintenance of the home.
DCF 250.055(1)(i)
(i) The licensee may not combine the care of children enrolled in the child care center with foster care of other non-related children or adults without the prior written approval of both licensing agencies.
DCF 250.055(1)(j)
(j) During the hours of the center's operation, no provider or any other person in contact with children in care may consume or be under the influence of beverages containing alcohol or any non-prescribed controlled substance specified in ch.
961, Stats.
DCF 250.055(1)(k)
(k) A child may not be released to any person who has not been previously authorized by the parent to receive the child.
DCF 250.055(1)(L)
(L) The licensee shall implement and adhere to a procedure to ensure that the number, names, and whereabouts of children in care are known to the provider at all times.
DCF 250.055(1)(m)
(m) A provider shall be outside with children and provide sight and sound supervision of the children, unless the children are playing inside the enclosed outdoor area on the premises specified under s.
DCF 250.06 (11) (b).
DCF 250.055(1)(n)
(n) A provider shall be outside with children providing sight and sound supervision of the children when a wading pool containing water is present in the outdoor play space specified in s.
DCF 250.06 (11) (b).
DCF 250.055(2)(a)(a) At no time may more than 8 children be in the care of the center. This limitation applies to all of the following:
DCF 250.055(2)(a)2.
2. All children 7 years of age or older who are not a provider's own children.
DCF 250.055(2)(b)
(b) The maximum number of children that one provider may care for is specified in Table 250.055.
DCF 250.055(2)(c)
(c) If the size of the group or the age distribution of the children exceeds the number that may be served by one provider, an additional qualified provider shall be present.
DCF 250.055 Note
Note: For example, if there are 3 children under 2 years of age present at one time and 5 children between the 2 years of age and 6 years of age present, a second provider is required. At no time may the maximum number of children in care exceed 8.
DCF 250.055(2)(d)
(d) When care is provided on a level that is more than 6 feet above or below ground level, no more than 2 children under 2 years of age per provider may be in care.
DCF 250.055 Note
Note: Section
DCF 250.06 (4) (e) requires an interconnected smoke detection system in operating condition if one or more children under 2 years of age will be cared for in a location that is more than six feet above or below the ground level.
-
See PDF for table 
DCF 250.055 History
History: EmR1918: emerg. cr., eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: cr.
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20;
CR 21-100: r. and recr. (2) (d)
Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23.
DCF 250.06
DCF 250.06
Physical plant and equipment. DCF 250.06(1)(a)(a)
Conformance with building codes. Family child care centers located in a building that is not a one or 2-family dwelling shall conform to the applicable Wisconsin commercial building codes. A copy of a building inspection report evidencing compliance with the applicable building codes shall be submitted to the department prior to the department's issuance of a license.
DCF 250.06 Note
Note: The building inspection report should be sent to the appropriate regional office listed in Appendix A.
DCF 250.06(1)(b)1.1. A center shall have at least 35 square feet of usable floor space per child. Usable floor space for children does not include passageways, bathrooms, lockers, storage areas, the furnace room, the part of the kitchen occupied by stationary equipment, and space occupied by furniture that is not intended for children's use.
DCF 250.06(1)(b)2.
2. The inside temperature of the center may not be less than 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
DCF 250.06(1)(b)3.
3. If the inside temperature at the center exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the licensee shall provide for air circulation with safe fans, air conditioning, or other means.
DCF 250.06(1)(b)4.
4. There shall be at least one toilet with plumbing and one sink with hot and cold running water available for use by children in care in the center. The hot water temperature may not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
DCF 250.06(2)(a)
(a) Furnaces, water heaters, steam radiators, fireplaces, wood burning stoves, electric fans, electric outlets, electric heating units and hot surfaces such as pipes shall be protected by screens or guards so that children cannot touch them.
