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Supporting Programs

Supporting Programs

Partner Up Grant Program

Partner Up Grant Program

Helping businesses secure affordable child care slots for their employees
The Partner Up! grant program will provide $10 million in funding to support child care for Wisconsin’s businesses. Through Partner Up!, businesses can reserve subsidized slots in regulated local child care programs for their employees’ use. The employer will contribute part of the true cost of care for each slot reserved, and Partner Up! will contribute the remaining amount. Participating families will receive accessible, high-quality child care at little-to-no out-of-pocket cost to them.

Detailed information, including costs and eligibility, can be found on DCF’s Partner Up! webpage..
Application closes: April 4, 2022 at 5 p.m. CST
Priority consideration will be given for submissions received by March 14, 2022

Go to the Partner Up! website
YoungStar

YoungStar

YoungStar is Wisconsin’s quality rating and improvement system that helps families locate and child care providers implement high quality care. Our Quality Coaches deliver on-site technical assistance to regulated child care programs in La Crosse, Monroe, Juneau, Vernon, Richland, and Crawford Counties and work one-on-one with child care centers and family child care providers to create a safe and nurturing learning environment for the children in their care. Our Quality Coaches provide early childhood educators with the tools and strategies they need to be successful in their work. Programs are evaluated using evidence-based evaluation criteria and are awarded a rating of one to five stars. YoungStar participation is required in order to receive reimbursement through Wisconsin’s child care subsidy program, Wisconsin Shares. 

Farm to ECE

Farm to ECE

Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE) is a natural extension of Farm to School that offers increased access to healthy, local foods, gardening experiences, family engagement opportunities and food-based activities to enhance the quality of the educational experience in all types of ECE settings. 

The Parenting Place provides funding, educational opportunities and technical support to programs who are chosen to participate in this program funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Implementing Farm to ECE principles can result in children making healthier food choices throughout their lifetimes because children are developing taste preferences and eating habits during these early years.  By expanding healthy food access for children, connections with families and market opportunities for local farmers, Farm to ECE is a win for kids, families, farmers and communities!