WCCF Update

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· Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reinvest savings from fraud crackdown
into YoungStar

· Wisconsin Shares child care funding saved by cracking down on fraud and weeding out poor quality providers should be reinvested in YoungStar to help child care programs move up the 5-star rating scale, according to a February 7 editorial by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Acknowledging that lack of money may make it difficult for some providers to do what’s needed to improve, MJS calls for investments in training, technical assistance, and mentoring. The editorial argues that “high-quality child care programs help children find the path that leads to lifelong learning.”

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· An adjacent MJS column by Milwaukee County Supervisor Eyon Biddle Sr. warns about unintended consequences of child care policies that are damaging child care businesses that play by the rules.

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· YoungStar is continuing to be in the spotlight as implementation continues. Stay tuned for YoungStar reports from WCCF in the next few weeks.

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As always, improving child care should be the top goal

The state's new quality ratings should help weed out bad providers, but others capable of improving may need a hand.

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Feb. 6, 2012

Related Coverage

Working families deserve access to high-quality child care for their kids, but all too often in Milwaukee County they can't find such care. As of December, 86% of the facilities in Milwaukee County were rated lower than three stars out of five.

If the goal is that every child care provider should be at three stars or above, there is a long way to go.

But what should be done about providers who don't quite make the grade? Should there be incentives to help them boost their ratings? Should they receive help?

We think they should. And we think the state should consider using some of the money saved from cracking down on fraud toward that end.

Make no mistake: The worst-performing providers should not be helped and should be allowed to go out of business. But others can be saved - and improved.

YoungStar, the state's new rating system, provides parents with a universal way of judging facilities based on quality. The system helps to take the guesswork out of finding high-quality child care and should drive the worst-performing providers out of business and help to reduce fraud.

Under a new quality rating system that begins in July, providers that receive a one-star rating no longer will be eligible for reimbursement. Those that receive two stars will see a 5% decrease; three-star providers will receive the base reimbursement rate; four-star providers will receive a 5% bonus; and five stars earn the providers a 10% bonus through 2012 and a 25% bonus starting in 2013.

Milwaukee's child care system has to improve: High-quality child care programs help children find the path that leads to lifelong learning, but if kids don't get on that path early, too many never get on it at all.

Because of a lack of money, it may be difficult for some providers to do what's needed to improve. If they fail to do so, some may close. In some cases, that still may be the best thing. But mass closings will become a major problem for parents if the void that is created isn't filled. Parents still need reliable, safe care for their children.

What's needed is a collaborative effort by the state and social service agencies to assure that low-rated facilities with the ability to improve have an opportunity to do so.

Other states with similar rating systems have provided support for centers that are struggling to improve. When Oklahoma moved to a quality rating system, a large number of child care facilities were faced with cuts in funding. Instead of letting these facilities wither and die, the state worked to provide free technical assistance and training, along with mentoring.

Such public investments are worth it if they help improve the overall quality of child care and maintain options for working parents in their own neighborhoods. Wisconsin should follow some of these best practices.

Funding saved by cracking down on bad providers and reducing fraud should be reinvested in assistance for two-, three- and four-star facilities to help them improve. In 2010, the state saved $100 million by rooting out fraud in the Wisconsin Shares program, schemes that were uncovered in a Pulitzer Prize-winning series of articles by Journal Sentinel reporter Raquel Rutledge.

The bottom line: Let's do whatever is necessary to help kids, no matter their station in life, to get a solid start in school. That begins with reliable, safe, high-quality child care.

Should the state provide assistance to help underperforming child care providers improve? To be considered for publication as a letter to the editor, e-mail your opinion to the Another View | Child Care

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Don't penalize good child care providers

There once was a time, not long ago, when African-American entrepreneurs in Milwaukee County were able to start small businesses without the fear of disenfranchisement. Under the state's new YoungStar system, I am afraid those days soon will be numbered for many small "mom-and-pop" child care centers in Milwaukee County.

I do not excuse the wrongdoings of those who scam the system. Taxpayers should not foot the bill for fraud or substandard care. However, small business owners who play by the rules should not suffer because of the iniquity of a handful of bad actors. Ultimately, the implementation of the new tiered reimbursement system could put many family providers out of business. The unintended consequence of this policy likely will be a reduction of service options to my constituents.

In light of new research on this topic, the governor and legislators representing Milwaukee County should reassess their prior decisions to ensure that their actions do not further harm the local economy. Without any adjustment, YoungStar will disproportionately affect residents and service providers in Milwaukee County. The governor has a chance now to stand with working-class people, including the employees who depend on providers for support and the providers who deliver this valuable service to the community.

As a parent myself, I know that high-level care is not found only in larger group centers. Family-owned providers can meet these standards, and the state should work with, rather than against, these small businesses. For example, the Department of Children and Families must become more aggressive in helping family providers meet minimum educational levels through increased training opportunities. In particular, residents living on Milwaukee's northwest side need improved service options. Therefore, the department should focus its efforts on the development of high-quality providers to benefit the families who live in that area.

The Wisconsin Works program requires workforce participation. It is incumbent upon the state to build child care capacity. Requiring people to work without also working to ensure access to affordable, high-quality child care is counterproductive. Employers suffer when workers can't find a place for their children.

Nearly 30% of Milwaukee's population lives in poverty. This is disgusting to me. The provision of high-quality care for all of our children is a pressing need that requires the urgent attention of the public and private sectors. A balanced solution is required to improve the economic infrastructure of Milwaukee County. Working together, we can meet the cumulative needs of the community while improving the quality of life for future residents.

It would not be impossible for the administration to find ways to minimize fraud and be responsible with tax dollars at the same time. These two goals are not inherently mutually exclusive. We can improve service options for parents who are dependent on day care without being overly punitive to service providers.

Let's not paint a broad stroke by implementing policies that are cruel and irresponsible. Instead, let's create a system that works for small businesses and for the community. Kids and parents in Milwaukee County deserve access to safe, high-quality care. The time is now to encourage the state to make this wise investment in our future.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Eyon Biddle Sr. represents the 10th Supervisory District, which includes parts of Milwaukee's north side and downtown.