Wisconsin’s supply of regulated family child care providers is rapidly diminishing, according to WCCF’s analysis. The decline is clear for both licensed family child centers and for smaller family child care programs certified to receive Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy funding.
Steep Drop in Licensed Family Child Care Centers
Statewide decline: In the last 7 years, the number of licensed family child care centers statewide has dropped over 28 percent, from 3220 at the end of 2004 to 2305 in 2011, reducing the capacity to serve over 7,000 children (See Graph 1).
Steep Decline in Certified Family Child Care Providers
The number of certified family child care providers has plummeted 63 percent in the last 10 years, from 5533 providers at the end of 2001 to 2040 providers at the end of 2011, a drop of 3,493 providers. The reduction over the last seven years is 58 percent, a reduction of 2,410 providers that were serving an estimated 7,000 children.
Brief Summary: Regulated Categories for Family Child Care in Wisconsin
Licensing: Licensing is required when 4 or more children unrelated to the provider are receiving care. It is administered at the state level. The maximum number of children a licensed family child care center can serve at one time is 8. Licensing provides a permit to operate, regardless of the funding source, with the primary purpose of protecting children and promoting their health, safety and welfare.
Certification: Family child care providers are certified for public funding by a county, tribe, or other designated (like a Child Care Resource and Referral agency) when fewer than 4 unrelated children are in care. Certification is for the primary purpose of protecting children who care is publicly funded.
Rules, requirements and monitoring for licensed family child care are significantly more rigorous and extensive than for certified providers.
By Dave Edie, WCCF Early Care and Education Analyst
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What do you think?
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families is interested in your feedback:
What do you think is causing this significant decline in regulated family child care services?
Respond to: Dave Edie, dedie@wccf.org
