Wisconsin News and Sports
Parents shopping around for licensed day care facilities could soon have some extra help finding the right one, under a ratings system being proposed by the Governor.
The Youngstar quality ratings system would score child care providers based on their learning environment, business practices and the well being of the children. Providers would be ranked on a five star scale, with a two star rating being about average for most. [Read more…]
The Legislative Audit Bureau provides more troubling findings, from the second phase of a year long audit of the Wisconsin Shares program. As reported earlier, the audit revealed at least eight instances in which felons and other individuals with records of child abuse and neglect were either employed by or living in child care facilities, although officials at the Department of Children and Families believe that no children were harmed as the result of those situations.
The audit bureau also identified 317 individuals participating in Wisconsin Shares whose past criminal offenses require more investigation. And the report indicates that operators of 184 licensed and 20 certified child care facilities, more than forty percent of them in Milwaukee County, were overdue for criminal background checks as of June 30.
A major reform to the state’s child care system is headed to the governor. State Senator Bob Jauch noted that lawmakers in Madison were spurred to action, by investigative reporting in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, showing fraud and abuse in the Wisconsin Shares program.
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)
“We have become painfully aware that some people taking care of of our child care system ought not be there, because of criminal backgrounds” said Jauch. “Child care workers must be held to the highest possible standard, and we have discovered . . . that the laws are inadequate.” The bill passed Thursday is the sixth statutory change in the wake of the Wisconsin Shares investigation, and Jauch conceded it may not be the last. “We’re going to have to continue to evaluate this system, to be sure that it operates at the highest standards.”
The bill (SB 331) prohibits persons convicted of certain crimes from ever being licensed as child care providers, and requires criminal background checks on providers at least every three months.
The state investigation into Child Care provider fraud in the Wisconsin Shares program includes a child care provider in Rock County.
The Department of Children and Families lists Ketrina’s Kiddie Care of Beloit among the nearly 100 child care providers, mostly in Milwaukee, that have had their state funding suspended.
Communications Specialist for DCF, Stephanie Hayden, says the license of Ketrina’s Kiddie Care was revoked on July 25th as the result of suspected violations of the Wisconsin Shares program. She says the Rock County Human Services Department determined the provider received an overpayment of $1,940.17. According to the reports, Ketrina’s Kiddie Care allegedly submitted hours of attendance for two children for 15 days in which they were not in care as well as for two weeks after a parent’s employment had ended.
Hayden says if after the investigation it’s determined that Ketrina’s didn’t violate the law, their license will be returned and payments in the Wisconsin Shares program will be reestablished.
WCLO
Scrutiny for a state child care program. Prompted in part by a newspaper's investigation of fraud and abuse in the taxpayer funded Wisconsin Shares child care program, a legislative committee has ordered an audit of the program. "The legislative audit committee is putting the cheats on notice," said state Representative Peter Barca, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Audit. "We will not tolerate any cheats of public assistance in Wisconsin."
An investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel discovered widespread fraud and abuse in the program. There may have been little incentive for local authorities to pursue allegations, according to state Senator Bob Jauch. "Because any of the money that we would collect through fraud and abuse (investigations) goes back to Washington D.C.," said Jauch. "We have to be willing to provide the resources, but to also make sure that when counties do that, they're able to collect some of the dollars."
"Unlike many program audits, this audit is going to be done while changes are ongoing," said audit committee co-chair, state Senator Kathleen Vinehout. "It will immediately recommend changes that can be incorporated into the public budgeting process."
"Whle the audit will address procedures and policies, and try to identify the causes and consequences of fraud and abuse, it is important that we emphasize that not one bit of our discussion should overshadow the honesty and excellent care, provided to thousands of children across Wisconsin," said Jauch, who chairs the Senate Committee on Children and Families. "I caution against blaming an entire program for illicit activities of a few," said state Representative Tamara Grigsby, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Children and Families. "We must seek out fraud, yet maintain the vital services for those who so desperately need it."
Barca said providers attempting to cheat the program need to know that they'll be identified and disqualified, and if they're breaking the law, prosecuted as well.
A new study shows Wisconsin is fairing well when it comes to providing childcare to low-income families.
The report from the National Women's Law Center highlights the challenges many states face in continuing to help low-income families access childcare. For many states, including Wisconsin, federal funding shortages top the list.
Dave Edie with the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families says those funds have either been frozen or reduced in many cases, which is shifting a greater burden on the states. He says officials in the Badger State have helped overcome those shortfalls. However, tough economic times could make the problem worse if the state needs to make further cuts.
Many states have had to adjust who is eligible for care, frozen payment rates, and have created waiting lists. Edie says those steps and more may be needed in Wisconsin if federal funding doesn't get back on track.
An online tool launched earlier this summer by the Department of Children and Families is already seeing some heavy traffic.
Since it went online July 1st, nearly 200,000 visits have been made to a database of licensed child care providers maintained by the Department. Secretary Reggie Bicha says they're taking advantage of the first time in the state that people can go online to find information on providers in their neighborhood.
Bicha says the website provides a variety of information on those providers, such as licensing issues and any violations that have been filed in the past.
The database does not provide details of any violations. Bicha encourages parents to visit those locations on their own, which are required to have information available on any violations and what was done to correct them. Bicha says it's intended to be a starting point for parents as they evaluate a child care facility.
A new online tool offered by the state will allow families to more easily research child care providers.
The tool available through the new Department of Children and Families' website allows users to search for licensed child care programs in Wisconsin. Governor Jim Doyle says it can offer important information, such as the licensing status of the center and a history of any complaints filed against the provider. The database also lists any enforcement actions that may have been taken.
The database includes nearly 6,000 licensed providers in the state.
The Governor says he would like to see it expanded even further to include a rating system, which would evaluate and rank providers based on the quality of care they offer. He says the rankings could also be used to help determine the level of state funding facilities can receive.
The rating system was rejected by lawmakers in the last state budget, but Doyle says he will continue pushing for the measure.
Taxpayer subsidized child care will remain, for state employees in downtown Madison. The little known subsidy was the target of a motion by Joint Finance Committee Republicans like Senator Alberta Darling, who wanted to phase it out. “It's just an unfair perk for certain state employees who are on the Capitol Square,” said Darling. Democrat Representative Pedro Colon, said phasing out the subsidy to Creative Learning Child Care would undermine families, and he called the motion from Representative Jeff Stone “petty.” Representative Scott Suder noted that just over 100 state workers are enjoying a special benefit. “I don't think this motion is petty at all,” said Suder, arguing that the subsidy was unfair to other state employees. The motion failed, on an 8-to-8 party line vote, meaning that for now, subsidized child care will remain for state employees in downtown Madison, at a cost of $268-thousand over two years.
State lawmakers are being urged to protect child care services. The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families has sent a memo to members of the Legislature's budget committee, opposing some provisions of the Governor's budget.
Council director Charity Eleson says one of those proposals would reduce eligibility and create co-payments under the Wisconsin Shares program. Eleson says the basic program is extremely helpful for many low-income Wisconsin families by allowing them to work while their children are in supervised settings.
On the other hand, Eleson's group is supporting a proposed quality rating system for child care providers.