Regulated Child Care Programs

County Certified Provider

  • Provider must be 18 years of age.
  • Provider must submit references and a background information disclosure form (for all persons over age 10 residing in the home).
  • Provider must be physically and emotionally able to provide responsible child care, and free of symptoms of illness or communicable disease.
  • Provider must complete 15-20 hours of early childhood education (or remain provisionally certified without taking the training).
  • Provider can provide care for no more than 16 hours in any 24 hour period.
  • Provider will have a home safety inspection from the county certifier.
  • Provider must comply with additional rules and regulations found on the DCF website for certification.
Certified Family Child Care Providers may care for up to three children in addition to their own, for a total group of six children under 7 years of age in their home. (Providers own children over 7 years do not count toward the group total of six children).

State Licensed Provider


  • Provider must be 18 years of age.
  • Provider must submit a background information disclosure form for all persons age 12 and older that reside in the home.
  • Provider shall have a health exam and TB test dated and signed by a licensed physician.
  • Provider must complete 40 hours of early childhood education and complete 15 hours of continuing education each year.
  • Provider can provide care for no more than 12 hours in any 24 hour period.
  • Provider must develop written policies and procedures and have a site inspection.
  • Provider must complete 10 hours of training in Infant/Toddler care if they plan to provide care for children under the age of two.
  • Provider must comply with additional state licensing rules and regulations found on the DCF website for licensing.
Licensed family child care providers may care for four to eight children, including their own children under 7 years of age, in their home. (Providers own children over 7 years do not count toward group total of eight children).

Licensed Child Care Centers


Child care that takes place outside a home setting, for 9 or more children. Typically, children are grouped with children their own age. The following is the staff to child ratio from HFS 46 Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers:
MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF CHILD CARE WORKERS IN GROUP DAY CARE CENTERS
Age of Children Minimum # Child Care Workers to Children
Maximum # of Children
in a Group
Birth to 2 years 1:4 8
2 years to 2-1/2 years 1:6 12
2-1/2 years to 3 year 1:8 16
3 years to 4 years 1:10 20
4 years to 5 years 1:13 24
5 years to 6 years 1:17 32
6 years and over 1:18 32

CCR&R Service Delivery Area includes:
Adams, Clark, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette, Portage, Taylor, Waushara, and Wood Counties

Child Care Resource & Referral of Central Wisconsin, Inc. provides child care referrals to families in the entire service delivery area, and assistance and support to child care providers and communities in
Adams, Clark, Marquette, Portage, Waushara, and Wood Counties.

Child Care Connection, Inc. provides assistance and support to child care providers and communities in Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, and Taylor Counties.

Child Care Resource & Referral of Central Wisconsin, Inc.
210 East Jackson Street
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
715.423.4114 | 800.628.8534