What's Happening in Wisconsin?

Apprenticeships

Child Care Apprenticeship Project. Wisconsin was among 10 recipients of US Department of Labor grants to establish an apprenticeship curriculum, create standards, and implement a program based on an “earn as you learn” concept. The Child Care Development Specialist apprenticeship program is a two year training program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction at a local technical college.

For more information contact: Mary Harrington, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training at 608-441-5378

Mentoring Programs

Mentor Teacher Program matches experienced mentors with protégés to share educational experiences and on-the job training. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships most often support the educational component of the mentor program. Funding for this program is in jeopardy in the Wisconsin 2004-05 biennium budget.

For more information contact: Katherine McGurk, Sate of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development—Child Care Section at (608) 266-7001 or by email at mcgurka@dwd.state.wi.us

Organizations/Coalitions

Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition – Ready, Set, Grow! The Wisconsin Early Learn Coalition is a group of 12 organizations seeking to make early child care and education a prominent issue on the Wisconsin legislative agenda. It’s Ready, Set, Grow program is the focus of their campaign.

For more information call 608.284.0580

Wisconsin Women's Network Child Care Task Force is a statewide network of advocates that monitor policy initiatives impacting children and families. They advocate for a political agenda in support of women’s rights, including public investment in the child care workforce.

For more information contact: Jane Penner-Hoppe, Child Care Task Force Chair by email at wiccrrn@athenet.net or call 608-255-9809

Salary Surveys, Research & Studies

Recruiting and Retaining Low-Income Child Care Workers in Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Child Care Mentoring Project Evaluation - A Summary of the Findings

Dane County –- 4-C Community Coordinated Child Care. Research and data on wage and benefits conducted annually for Dane County and several surrounding counties.

For more information contact: George Hagenauer, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) at (608) 271-9181 or by email at info@4-C.org

Wisconsin Child Care Research Partnership, funded by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Bureau, this partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Child Care Section, and Wisconsin Child Care Resource and Referral Network, published “Losing Ground or Keeping Up: A Report on the Wisconsin Early Care and Education Workforce, 2001.” The Partnership also periodically develops issue briefs and public policy option papers.

For more information contact Mary Roach, Child Development Specialist--Wisconsin Child Care Research Partnership at (608) 262-6041 or by email at mroach@facstaff.wisc.edu, or contact Diane Adams, Project Manager--Wisconsin Child Care Research Partnership at 1-877-637-6188 or by email at dadams@facstaff.wisc.edu

Useful links: http://www.collaboratingpartners.com/

Scholarship Programs

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® WISCONSIN: a scholarship and bonus program providing financial support and incentives for child care teachers, directors, and family child care providers to take college courses in child development.

For more information contact: Jeanette Paulson, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) at 608-240-9880 x7225 or by email at jpaulson@wecanaeyc.org or Amy Schuster, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) at 608-240-9880 x 239 or by email at aschus@wecanaeyc.org.

Community Child Care Initiatives Grants often referred to as “pass-thru” grants. In 2003, 64 contracts were developed between the Department of Workforce Development and local districts/jurisdictions to provide for Child Care and Development Fund approved activities.

For more information contact: Gabe Blood at (608) 266-8200/ or by email at Gabrielle.blood@dwd.state.wi.us

Tiered Reimbursement Rates

Wisconsin pays higher reimbursement rates to child care centers and family child care programs that are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)

Unionization

Wisconsin Child Care Union—AFSCME Council 40 represents numerous child care programs in the Madison area.

For more information contact: Mary Burpee, Organizer at 608-836-4040 or by email at mburpee@afscmecouncil40.org

Wage Incentives

R.E.W.A.R.D. ™ (Rewarding Education with Wages and Respect for Dedication): A stipend program available to child care providers in Milwaukee County who have demonstrated a commitment to the child care field, and have completed education beyond entry level training requirements. This initiative is connected to the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship program and administered through the same agency, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association.

For more information call 608.284.0580 or email reward@wecanaeyc.org

The Local Child Care Wage Initiative - City of Madison and Dane County.
In 2000, the Wisconsin State Legislature allowed local governmental units to provide the match required to draw down federal Child Care and Development Funds. These funds “passed through” state government directly to the local communities to be used for child care quality initiatives. The City of Madison and Dane County collaborated to establish this local initiative which provides stipends of $750 - $2000 to 150 full-time center-based staff and 52 family child care providers.

For more information contact: Dorothy Conniff, City of Madison Office of Community Services at (608) 266-6520 or by email at dconniff@ci.madison.wi.us

Nicolet Technical College Stipend Program was established to enhance compensation for those who've achieved associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood education.

For more information contact: Autumn Gehri, of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association at (608) 240-9880 or by email at agehri@wecanaeyc.org.

Other Resources

Early Education Matters. An electronic newsletter produced by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, Wisconsin Budget Project that sends regular updates on local, state, and national policy initiatives.

For more information contact: Jon Peacock, Wisconsin Council on Children & Families at (608) 284-0580 ext. 307 or by email at jpeacock@wccf.org