Chapter DCF 250

DCF 250.05(3)(b) (b) Before receiving a license or beginning to work with children in care, a licensee or provider shall satisfactorily complete one of the following:

DCF 250.05(3)(b)1. 1. All of the following:

DCF 250.05(3)(b)1.a. a. Three credits in early childhood education or a department-approved, non-credit course in early childhood education.

DCF 250.05 Note Note: The non-credit course called Introduction to the Child Care Profession is the course that has been approved by the department. Information on other acceptable courses and agencies offering department-approved courses is available on the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing.

DCF 250.05(3)(b)1.b. b. A noncredit, department-approved course in operating a child care business or 2 credits in business or program administration. A person is exempt from this requirement if the person has been licensed or provided care for children in regulated child care continuously since December 31, 2008, including any combination of licensure under s. 48.65, Stats., certification under s. 48.651, Stats., or employment in a licensed child care center or for a certified child care operator.

DCF 250.05 Note Note: The non-credit course entitled Fundamentals of Family Child Care is approved by the department to meet this requirement. A credit-based course in a business topic may also be used. Information on agencies offering the department-approved course is available on the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing.

DCF 250.05(3)(b)2. 2. The Registry Family Child Care Credential.

DCF 250.05(3)(b)3. 3. A child development associate credential in family child care issued by the Council for Professional Recognition.

DCF 250.05(3)(c) (c) A substitute or volunteer that is used to meet the required staff-to-child ratio shall meet the training requirements specified in par. (b) after the substitute or volunteer has worked in the center for 240 hours.

DCF 250.05(3)(cm) (cm) A volunteer that is used to meet the required staff-to-child ratios under s. DCF 250.055 shall be at least 18 years of age.

DCF 250.05(3)(d) (d) If more than one provider is needed to meet the required staff-to-child ratio, each additional provider shall meet the training requirements in par. (b) within 6 months of beginning to work with children in care.

DCF 250.05(3)(e) (e)

DCF 250.05(3)(e)1. 1. Within 3 months after licensure or date of hire, each licensee and provider shall obtain a certificate of completion for a department-approved course in infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including training in the use of an automated external defibrillator.

DCF 250.05(3)(e)2. 2. Each licensee and provider shall maintain a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification as specified under subd. 1.

DCF 250.05(3)(e)3. 3. The time spent obtaining or renewing cardiopulmonary resuscitation training may be counted towards the required continuing education hours under sub. (4) (c).

DCF 250.05(3)(f) (f) Each licensee and provider shall have satisfactorily completed at least 10 hours of department-approved training in the care of infants and toddlers within 6 months after becoming licensed or working with children in care under 2 years of age.

DCF 250.05(3)(fm) (fm) Prior to working with children in care and at least every 2 years thereafter, each provider and substitute shall complete training in all of the following:

DCF 250.05(3)(fm)1. 1. Child abuse and neglect laws.

DCF 250.05(3)(fm)2. 2. How to identify children who have been abused or neglected.

DCF 250.05(3)(fm)3. 3. The procedure for ensuring that all known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect are immediately reported to the proper authorities.

DCF 250.05(3)(g) (g) Prior to obtaining a license or working with children in care under 5 years of age, a licensee, provider, substitute, volunteer, emergency back-up, or any other person providing care and supervision shall satisfactorily complete department-approved training in shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing, or distraught children.

DCF 250.05 Note Note: The department-approved training is included in the course called Health, Safety and Nutrition offered by a Wisconsin technical college or in the non-credit, department-approved courses called Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care, if the course was taken after July 1, 2005. Information on agencies offering the department-approved courses is available on the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing.

DCF 250.05(3)(gm) (gm) A program aide shall meet all of the following conditions:

DCF 250.05(3)(gm)1. 1. Be at least 16 years old.

DCF 250.05(3)(gm)2. 2. Work under the direction and supervision of a child care provider.

DCF 250.05(3)(gm)3. 3. Satisfactorily complete at least one of the following no later than 6 months after assuming the position:

DCF 250.05(3)(gm)3.a. a. An assistant child care teacher training program approved by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

DCF 250.05(3)(gm)3.b. b. A noncredit department-approved course on early childhood education.

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 Note Note: Information on the approval process for non-credit courses is available on the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing.

DCF 250.05(4) (4) Staff development.

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)1. 1. The names and ages of all the children in care.

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)11. 11. The administration of medications.

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(4)(a)13. 13. The center policies and procedures required under s. DCF 250.04 (2) (e).

DCF 250.05(4)(a)14. 14. The provisions in this chapter.

DCF 250.05(4)(a)15. 15. The reporting requirements for the child care background check under s. DCF 13.07 (3).

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)1. 1. The names and ages of all the children in care.

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)4. 4. Information on any children with special health care needs.

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) (c) Continuing education.

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.a. a. Prevention and control of infectious diseases.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.b. b. Medication administration.

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.d. d. Identification of and protection from hazards.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.e. e. Building and physical premises safety.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.f. f. Emergency preparedness and response planning.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.g. g. Handling and storage of hazardous materials.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.h. h. Handling and disposal of biocontaminants.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.i. i. Child growth and development.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.j. j. Caring for children with disabilities.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.k. k. Guiding children’s behavior.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.L. L. Nutrition.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.m. m. Physical activity.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.n. n. Transportation safety.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.o. o. Identification and reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.p. p. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.q. q. First aid.

DCF 250.05(4)(c)1.r. r. Business operations.

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) (1) Supervision.

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)(e) (e) At least one provider who has completed the training required under s. DCF 250.05 (3) (b) shall supervise children at all times, except when a substitute is providing care. A substitute shall meet the requirements under s. DCF 250.05 (3) (c) and (4) (a).

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.