Eat blueberries and strawberries dipped
in whipped cream.
 

Family Resources provides County Certification services for La Crosse County in Wisconsin. We can assist individuals who are interested in becoming a regulated, child care professional by providing child care in their home.

1. Submit a completed application along with required application fee (if applicable) so that all paperwork can be processed.

2. A home visit is done to ensure your home is safe for children.

3. Complete required trainings (if applicable).

Why Should You Become County Certified?

Being a child care professional can be both exciting and rewarding. Children are our future and knowing that you are influencing our future by teaching them has to be the greatest reward there is. When you become a certified child care professional, there are many benefits and resources available to you.

There are two levels of certification:

• Level I: Regular Certified

• Level II: Provisionally Certified

To become certified at either level you must meet the following requirements:

• Must meet minimum health and safety standards.

• Three letters of reference on file with the certifier.

• Results of a negative Tuberculosis Test on file with certifier.

• Background checks are required for anyone 10 years of age and older who are either residents of the household or has regular contact with the day care children.

• Consent for Release of Information forms are required for everyone 10 years of age or older who resides in the household or has regular contact with the day care children.

• Landlord permission is required for all applicants who rent their home.

• Regulatory Agency approval is required for all foster parents or State Licensed Child Care Providers.

• A county certifier makes a site visit upon initial certification and then every two years for recertification. Unannounced visits are also made.

• If you plan to care for children under the age of 12 months you must complete a SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) training prior to caring for infants.

• If you plan to care for children under the age of 5 years you must complete a Shaken Baby Syndrome Training prior to caring for children.

To advance to Level I: Regular Certified you must meet the following requirements in addition to the requirements listed above:

• Complete a 15-hour class entitled Introduction to the Child Care Profession (Module A) and also an 8-hour class entitled Fundamentals of the Child Care Profession. Both classes are offered at Western Technical College several times each year. (You may be exempt from this requirement if you have already completed classes that provided equivalent training.) If you are interested in becoming a State Licensed Child Care Professional in the future we do suggest that you take the 40-hour Introduction to the Child Care Profession class instead of the 15-hour class.

• Continue to complete 5 hours of Continuing Education per year.

Discuss running a day care with your family. The children will have to share your time and perhaps their toys with other children. Your significant other may have to adjust to a house full of children.

• Where in the house will day care children be allowed and what rooms will be off limits?

• Where will the day care children keep their coats and belongings?

• The bathroom is a place that special arrangements may need to be made for the day care children. Family items should be kept out of reach.

• Where will the day care toys be kept so they are easily accessible? Toy boxes in the play area or bookshelves may work well to hold the toys.

• How many children can you care for? *State regulations allow a certified child care provider to care for a total of six children. Only three of the six can be under the age of seven. The provider's own/related children under the age of seven will count in the total number of children. (Example: A provider who has a child of her own that is 4 years old can care for a total of five children. The regulation - only three of the five day care children can be under the age of seven still applies.

• Is this the job you want? Remember this is a very important job!

If you are interested in providing quality child care in your home, contact Nancy or Malinda at (608) 796-0830 or (800) 873-1768.