Efforts to uncover fraud in the Wisconsin Shares program appear to be paying off.
Department of Children and Families Secretary Reggie Bicha says the agency has been aggressively cracking down in recent months, following the discovery of widespread fraud in the childcare subsidy program.
The Department has drawn criticism after audits and press reports showed multiple cases of providers falsifying attendance records, sex offenders living in home daycare facilities, and widespread corruption in the program.
Bicha says they’ve been holding providers accountable when fraud or other problems are uncovered. So far, the agency has revoked the licenses of 28 providers and suspended 130 after potential fraud was uncovered.
The crackdown appears to be having a deterrent effect for some, according to Bicha. He says many have started to keep better attendance records, which is producing cost savings for the state. In Milwaukee County, the cost per child decreased five to six percent over last year. Statewide, it was down about three percent.
Bicha says DCF will continue efforts to uncover fraud in the program in the coming months.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:03)