SFTA Member Network:

Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs)

A Note from SFTA's Director
SFTA Has Gone Remote
SFTA Q&A Campaign
SFTA Directors Meeting
FRC Advocacy Updates
Governor Evers Calls for Funding
Play Group Training
SFTA Staff Earn Endorsement

NEW CCR&R Training Page
DHS Reorganization
Wisconsin Shares Eligibility
Fulfilling The Promise Proposals
CCR&R and FRC Highlights
Network Impact by the Numbers
Upcoming Events
SFTA Marketing Updates
Staff & Board Members

A Note from SFTA's Executive Director

Greetings to all,

I hope everyone has been enjoying the fun energy and activities that define our one-of-a-kind Wisconsin summers. Here at SFTA, our team has been indulging in the joys of the season, while continuing to advance our mission to strengthen the systems that support kids and all who care for them across Wisconsin. As administrator of the nation’s only joint network of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies and Family Resource Centers (FRCs), SFTA has taken advantage of the summer to collaboratively identify and implement strategies for more efficient, coordinated, and consistent service delivery across our member organizations.

SFTA has also been exploring opportunities for the Joint CCR&R-FRC Network to expand the ways in which it responds to the needs of families and early care and education providers across the state. The Joint Network is currently comprised of 36 organizations across the state, each of which is embedded in and trusted by their local communities. This unique joint model was invented by the Wisconsin Government, with the vision that it would be leveraged to increase access to integrated supports across the spectrum of needs faced by all who care for kids. To advance more swiftly towards this vision, SFTA leadership has been busy meeting with new and established partners to initiate novel plans for programming and fund development. We are excited to see the fruition of these efforts, starting this Fall!

SFTA is immensely grateful for the ongoing, strong collaboration of our dedicated funding and community partners, member organizations, board, and staff. The fields of family support and early care and education in Wisconsin continue to face uncertainty and challenges. At the same time, I am comforted by the strength of our Joint CCR&R-FRC System. Further, I am inspired by the potential for more strategic, coordinated partnerships that leverage our Joint Network as the Wisconsin infrastructure for efficient, quality implementation of state-wide solutions.

Onward!

SFTA Has Gone Remote!

As of August 1, 2024 all staff at SFTA are remote. and our physical office space has been closed. All phone numbers and emails will remain the same, but please send mail to:

Mail:

PO Box 8534

Madison, WI 53708

Packages:

3902 Milwaukee St.

PO Box 8534

Madison, WI 53708

Statewide Q&A Marketing Campaign!

As the administrator of both the CCR&R and FRC Networks, SFTA is implementing a statewide marketing campaign to highlight and promote the high quality services offered by FRCs and CCR&Rs in their local communities.

Starting the week of August 5th, two new posts are shared on SFTA's social media platforms each week. We encourage all of our partners, stakeholders, families, providers, everyone, to re-share these posts broadly so communities are aware of these free quality services!

CCR&R and FRC Network Quarterly Directors Meeting

SFTA Leadership, FRC Directors, and CCR&R Directors convened in beautiful Hayward Wisconsin at Northwest Connection Family Resources to learn and grow together as a network. Being the nations only joint CCR&R and FRC Network, we are the system that bridges early childhood supports for all who care for kids! Leaders spent two days meeting with funders and strategizing about how to continue to strengthen systems for Wisconsin's children, families, and early childhood professionals through our robust network.

Exciting Federal Advocacy Update for FRCs!

Thank you to everyone who co-signed this letter of support for the Family Resource Center Definition Bill, which included 230 signatures (32 from Wisconsin)! The letter was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee leadership in mid July and the legislation passed within the bipartisan Title IV-B Reauthorization package (H.R. 9076).

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill that also included the FRC definition and language to encourage State to utilize their Social Services Block Grant funding to support FRCs!

This is a huge achievement for Family Resource Centers, getting one step closer to having a federal definition for FRCs in law to rely on for future federal, state, and local advocacy! Passing out of both Committees sets FRCs up to be considered for inclusion in a big package at the end of this year. Congratulations!

The FRC Coalition, that SFTA is a member of, proposed additional edits to the existing IV-B statute, many of which were also accepted. These edits integrated FRCs and similar community-based family support organizations into state child welfare plan development and evaluations and additionally clarified the importance of mental health care for youth within the child welfare system. You can read more about our accepted recommendations and other relevant provisions here.

Governor Evers calls for Investments in Child Care

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) recently released the 2024 Market Rate Survey, revealing a significant decline in child care affordability. Between 2022 and 2023, child care provider prices surged, with center-based infant care increasing by 11% and family-based care by 14%, far outpacing the state's 4.9% inflation rate. This has led to a nearly 25% drop in affordable child care slots for families using the Wisconsin Shares subsidy program, with only half of slots now deemed affordable, down from 74% last year.

The reduction in payments from the Child Care Counts Program in May 2023 has significantly worsened this reality, especially in light of the end of federal relief funding and lack of state investment. In the statement, Governor Evers continues to call for sustained state investment to support the child care sector and prevent further price hikes and closures. See the full release below.

The Raising Wisconsin website also has the market survey and child care affordability calculator portal in the “Dig in Further” section at the bottom of the Access and Affordability page.

Register for Play Group Training

Supporting Families Together Association will be offering a virtual Play Group training to provide participants with an understanding of the best practices for Play Groups and share resources and tools to support you in applying and implementing these practices in your agency sessions.

Dates: October 7 & 21

Time: 11am-2:30pm

Registration: Click here to register in PDS

SFTA Staff Earn Endorsement in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health!

SFTA prioritizes the professional education of our staff to ensure we are setting a standard of excellence when offering services to our members, funders, partners, communities, providers and families. SFTA staff that work on behalf of children ages 0-6 have worked to earn Endorsement in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health through the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH). Obtaining Endorsement enhances professional credibility, verifies that staff have attained specific levels of functioning and understanding of relationships-based approaches, and ensures consistency in professional standards across programs.

SFTA is proud to have key staff professionally endorsed in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. To learn more about endorsement visit WI-AIMH's website.

NEW CCR&R Network Training Webpage!

The Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Upcoming Trainings webpage provides a list of trainings available through the nine CCR&Rs. This list gives providers options for taking trainings that meet their schedule.

Information on Delivery Method (In-Person, Virtual, Online, or Blended), Agency offering the training, and Start and End Date of the training are included in the list. Check out

CCR&R Upcoming Trainings

Providers can view a full list the following trainings:

Child Care Foundational Trainings (Introduction to the Child Care Profession, Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care, Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher, and Fundamentals of Family Child Care).
Health and Safety (Abusive Head Trauma Prevention with Mandated Reporter, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Reduction, Pediatric First Aid, and Infant and Child CPR with AED).
Wisconsin Pyramid Model (8 Part Series, Infant/Toddler 8 Part Series, e-Modules with Reflective Coaching - Birth to 5, and e-Modules with Reflective Coaching - Preschool).
Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards
Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education with Mandated Reporter
Other (Basic Heath and Safety Topics, Onboarding New Staff, Understanding Regulatory Requirements, and Supervision Children).

Note: The upcoming training events listed on this page are not an exclusive list. To find more trainings, visit your local CCR&R's training calendar by clicking on their logo at the bottom of the webpage.

Department of Health Services (DHS) Family Health Section Reorganization

DHS has reorganized their Family Health Section to help reduce silos and organize work based on the populations served rather than solely by funding.

Units now include:

Maternal and Infant Health
Child and Adolescent Health
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Reproductive Health and Family Planning
Data and Evaluation
Community Health Operations

What is changing and what is staying the same:

In terms of changes, the Family Health Section, including the various programs and units, continue to have the responsibility to help improve the health of women, infants, children, teens, and families as they progress through the critical developmental milestones of life.

The Maternal and Child Health unit shifted into two, the Maternal and Infant Health unit and the Child and Adolescent health unit.
The Children and Special Health Care Needs and Reproductive Health and Family Planning units have not changed.
The Maternal and Infant Mortality Prevention unit is now the Community Health Operations unit, being elevated to focus on prioritizing community voice and equity across the section's programs.
Similarly, they created a Data and Evaluation unit to support all of their programs including the Maternal Mortality Review Team and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, to name a few.

With this reorganization, DHS has staff openings! Visit Work at DH S for opportunities to join the team. If you have any questions or would just like to learn more about this reorganization, email Jenny Ullsvik at: jennnifer.ullsvik1@dhs.wisconsin.gov

More Families Can Get Help Paying for Child Care!

In July, income eligibility requirements for the Wisconsin Shares program increased, meaning more Wisconsin families may be able to get help paying for child care.

Do you have parents struggling to pay for child care? We want to help families access affordable quality care! Please share this new income limit information with your families and encourage them to apply for Wisconsin Shares. Even if they’ve been denied in the past, they may be eligible now! Visit the Wisconsin Shares parent webpage and click on Income Eligibility Increase to learn more.

You can also help spread the word by using the Wisconsin Shares Media Kit to share social media posts and images, as well as posters to hang, and flyers to give to families. Posters and flyers can be downloaded for free from the DCF website. Download these resources for your families today!

Fulfilling The Promise Call for Proposals

The Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System (WCWPDS-Milwaukee) and the conference planning committee invite proposals for workshops at the 30th Annual Fulfilling the Promise Conference, to be held February 17-19th at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

This theme embraces the idea that possibilities, promise and potential are everywhere -in the clients we serve, and the work we do. In a world where innovation and growth are often associated with major breakthroughs or grand plans, the concept that "Potential is Everywhere" challenges us to look beyond the obvious. These presentations would explore the transformative power of recognizing potential in everyday situations, ourselves, overlooked places, and unconventional ideas. How can we shift our mindset to see potential where others see obstacles? Finding practical strategies for fostering creativity and innovation in individuals and teams. Techniques such as brainstorming, cross-disciplinary thinking, and embracing diversity of thought are explored to unlock hidden potential. Identifying emerging trends and opportunities in unexpected places. Methods for cultivating curiosity in oneself and others, and how it leads to serendipitous discoveries and breakthroughs. How recognizing potential everywhere empowers individuals and organizations to drive meaningful change.

Proposal Submissions here: https://tinyurl.com/ftp2025

CCR&R and FRC Highlights

Child Care Partnership has a NEW Look!

Child Care Partnership is excited to share that they recently worked through rebranding and have a new logo! Along with the changing of logo, you will see that their website has a fresh new look as well, check it out!

As they have grown over the years and added new programming, such as Family Resource Programming for Buffalo & Pepin Counties – it was a natural time to reflect this growth. This new logo represents the parents, early childhood professionals and community members they serve.

Watertown Family Connections Celebrates 30 years!

Congratulations to our member agency, Watertown Family Connections, for celebrating their 30th anniversary!

To learn more about their agency, visit their website here.

2024 Early Childhood Education Conference

September 21, 2024

8:30 am -3:15 pm

Nicolet College $25

Featured Presenter: Debra Morningstar, Professional Storytelling, Fiber Artist, Oneida Citizen.

Debra has presented Native storytelling performances, Keynotes, and earth-based healing workshops across the US and Canada for the past 28 years. Some of Debra's past work includes cultural residencies in Elementary and Middle schools throughout Wisconsin-and beyond, Cultural sensitivity trainings for Educators, Librarians, University Diversity programs, Department of Corrections, Mental Health, Sexual/Domestic Violence organizations, AODA services, Veterans Services, Native American Urban Indian Centers, National and regional Storytelling and Art organizations. Additionally, Debra's CD, Tales From the Lodge, a collection of Native American children's stories, was nominated in 2008 for a Native American Music Award (NAMA). Register at: http://www.nicoletcollege.edu/profdev

Early Learning Conference

Child Care Partnership proudly presents the Early Learning Conference, featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Diane Craft of Active Play on Saturday October 26th.

Learn fun, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate physical activities for children that use inexpensive equipment, small spaces, and work well in living rooms, playrooms, childcare centers, and schools. This presentation is designed for anyone seeking practical, motivating, and playful ways to promote physical activity among toddlers and preschoolers. Participants will be provided “hands on” opportunities to learn to lead the activities. Earn 6 hours of Registry Credit

Wisconsin Inter-Tribal Child Care Association (WITCCA)

The purpose of the Wisconsin Inter Tribal Child Care Association is to promote inter-tribal networking, communication, information sharing, support and encouragement of Wisconsin’s Child Care Tribal Directors/Departments. WITCCA respects and fosters effective relationships with other governmental and state agencies, organizations, and entities. We work cooperatively and collectively, to promote and address Tribal child care issues and topics.

Would you like to become involved or learn more about WITCCA? Contact Brenda Flannery at brenda.flannery@ncfrwi.net or 715-889-2995

SFTA Statewide Network Impact

CCR&R Data

FRC Data

Upcoming Events

Upcoming FRC Professional Development Trainings

The Growing Brain (Sept 5, 12, 19, 26)
Bringing The Protective Factors Framework to Life In Your Work (Sept-Nov)
Cultural Connections for Change (Sept 24)
Standards of Quality (Oct 2 & 3)
Brazelton Touchpoints (Oct 8-10)
Stewards of Children (Oct 16)

Click here to register learn more about each offering and information for how to register.

September 5th- Safe Sleep & Abusive Head Trauma/Shaken Baby Syndrome Discussion Webinar

Join Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin (the Alliance) and the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to discuss strategies they have implemented to engage community partners in the topic of infant safe sleep and abusive head trauma/shaken baby syndrome. Sign up here.

September 9th- Brazelton Touchpoints Parenting While Rising to the Child Development Challenges

This free, 5-episode virtual conversation series (Mondays, Sept 9- Dec 9) offers a warm and inviting opportunity to connect with other parents and families of children with differences in or challenges to their development. Over the five conversations, we will cover topics near and dear to the hearts and experiences of families as we all learn from each other about how to best support and advocate for our children, the whole family, and our communities. Learn more and Register.

September 13th- Turtle Talk: Collective Raising Indige-babies

Through conversations with families raising Indigenous babies and children, we will think together about what it is like to nurture children in our world today. This unique series explores the many ways in which families help their children grow their Native identities and connections with land, while navigating diverse systems of care and learning. This series will be Sept 13th, September 27th, and October 18th. Register Here

September 18th- Well-Being at Work: Tips for Preserving Energy and Rediscovering Pleasure

Our society places great emphasis on productivity and efficiency in the workplace, often to the detriment of workers' well-being. This Families Canada webinar will provide an overview of the pitfalls and challenges encountered in the workplace, which can undermine the energy and pleasure of working. Working with families is demanding, requiring a great deal of listening, sensitivity, empathy and multiple skills. How can we preserve our energy and avoid running straight into exhaustion? How can we take care of ourselves and respect our limits, while remaining caring and cheerful with children? This webinar will answer these questions and suggest some possible solutions. Register here.

September 25th- Learning to Listen: Conversations for Change

Learning to Listen: Conversations for Change returns with three new conversations highlighting inspiring leaders and their approaches to supporting babies, children and families.

Children’s environmental rights in a changing climate
Reproductive access for all
Public health post-Covid 19

Join the conversation: September 25th, October 23rd, and November 20th.

Learn more and register

October 16th-17th: Strong Leaders, Strong Child Care

Child Care Aware of America’s Leadership Institute is a one-of-a-kind event for the top leaders in our field across the nation to share practical expertise and real-world experience. It’s two days of conversation, collaboration, innovation, and action. The Schedule At-a-Glance is now available. Register today!

November 6th- Tools and Strategies for Improving Health Literacy in Early Childhood Programs Webinar

Early Childhood programs use health literacy strategies to improve communication, reduce health disparities, and advance health equity. Health Literacy practices at the personal and organizational levels help families and staff to find, understand, and use health information. This session will introduce the Health Literacy Toolkit for Early Childhood programs, describe the Health Literacy Guiding Principles for Families, and share strategies for using the toolkit to support positive health outcomes for children, families, and staff in your program. Register here.