Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Receives La Follette/Gladfelter Award for Innovation in State Government

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) have been recognized for their innovative efforts in stabilizing and sustaining the state's child care industry. As part of this initiative, the Child Care Counts program has provided significant support to child care providers, allowing them to continue caring for over 113,000 children and employing 22,000 professionals.

The Child Care Counts program, a key component of Gov. Evers' comprehensive workforce plan, has invested over $824 million since 2020 to increase access to quality, affordable child care. This investment has helped more than 4,440 child care providers keep their doors open, ensuring the employment of 22,000 child care professionals and allowing providers to continue care for more than 113,000 kids. However, despite the state's historic surplus, Republicans in the Legislature decided against funding the program, which is set to end in January 2024, with potentially devastating consequences.

Key Takeaways:

• The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families has been recognized for their innovative efforts in stabilizing and sustaining the state's child care industry.
• The Child Care Counts program has invested over $824 million since 2020 to increase access to quality, affordable child care.
• The program has helped more than 4,440 child care providers keep their doors open, ensuring the employment of 22,000 child care professionals and allowing providers to continue care for more than 113,000 kids.
• The program is set to end in January 2024, with potentially devastating consequences, including the closure of 2,110 child care programs and the loss of over 4,880 child care jobs.
• Without additional investments, over 87,000 children will be without child care in Wisconsin, and the lack of access to child care could cost the state approximately half a billion dollars in economic impacts.
• Gov. Evers has proposed making the Child Care Counts Program permanent with a more than $340 million investment in his 2023-25 biennial budget proposal.
• Republican lawmakers have not taken action on the governor's comprehensive workforce plan, which includes the extension of the Child Care Counts program.

Statistics:

• Over $824 million invested by Gov. Evers and DCF Secretary Amundson since 2020 in efforts to support increasing access to quality, affordable child care.
• Over 4,440 child care providers supported through the Child Care Counts program, ensuring the employment of 22,000 child care professionals and allowing providers to continue care for over 113,000 kids.
• 2,110 child care programs projected to close without additional investments, resulting in the loss of over 4,880 child care jobs.
• Over 87,000 children without child care in Wisconsin if the Child Care Counts program ends.
• Approximately half a billion dollars in economic impacts across the state due to the lack of access to child care.

Sources:

• Wisconsin Policy Forum
• The Century Foundation
• Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
• Gov. Tony Evers' office
• Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)