DCF 251
Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers w/ Commentary
DCF-P-(PFS-4024) 

Due to the size of this publication, it is made available to download two different ways.  

1) You may download the entire manual:

• DCF 251 - Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers w/ Commentary DCF-P-(PFS-4024) - 1080 kb

2) You may download separate parts of the manual:

• DCF 251 - Preface & Table of Contents - 141 kb

  • DCF 251.01 - Authority & Purpose - 136 kb

  • DCF 251.02 - Applicability - 139 kb

  • DCF 251.03 - Definitions - 266 kb

  • DCF 251.04 - Operational Requirements - 229 kb

  • DCF 251.05 - Staffing - 215 kb

  • DCF 251.06 - Physical Plant & Equipment - 228 kb

  • DCF 251.07 - Program - 215 kb

  • DCF 251.08 - Transportation - 154 kb

  • DCF 251.09 - Additional Requirements for Infant & Toddler Care - 156 kb

  • DCF 251.095 - Exceptions & Additional Requirements School-Age Care - 140 kb

  • DCF 251.10 - Additional Requirements for Night Care - 136 kb

  • DCF 251.11 - Licensing Administration - 120 kb

  • DCF 251.12 - Complaints, Inspections, and Enforcement Actions - 96 kb

  • Appendicies

    • A Regional Offices of the DECE - 96 kb

    • B CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements - Ages 1-12 - 103 kb

    • C CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements - Birth-11 Months - 100 kb

    • D Consumer Products Safety Commission (WWW.CPS.GOV) - 205 kb

    • E Required Items for Group Child Care Centers - 146 kb

    • F Key Statutes Related to Licensing of Child Care Centers - 187 kb

    • G DHS 12 Caregiver Background Checks - 246 kb

    • H Child Care Staff-to-Child Ratio Worksheet - 120 kb

    • I Instructions for Obtaining Department Forms - 99 kb

    • J Resource List (printable list) - 96 kb

      • Agencies Approved to Offer Non-Credit Entry-Level Training

      • Credit to Hours Conversion - Technical Assistance Tool

      • Caregiver Background Checks - Technical Assistance Tool

      • Collaborative Child Care Program - Technical Assistance Tool

      • Wisconsin Child Care Administrator Credential

      • The Registry Levels

      • Children with Disabilities - Resources for Providers

      • It Shouldn't Hurt to be a Child... Report Child Abuse and Neglect

      • Medical Log - Directions for Use

      • Microwave Instructions - Preparing Formula for Infants

      • Get Medical Help Immediately

      • Communicable Disease Chart

      • Exclusion Guidelines for Ill Children in Child Care

      • Car Safety Seat Information (Car Safety Seat Check-Up)

      • Common Plants - What's Poisonous

      • Fact Sheet on Universal Precautions and Standard Precautions for Child Care Centers

      • OSHA Regulations on Bloodborne Pathogens

      • Approved Sanitizer List from the Division of Public Health

      • Transportation of Children in 10+ Passenger Vans

      • Early Years are Learning Years - Time Out for 'Time Out'

      • Managing Crying, Fussing or Distraught Children (information packet)

• Index - 151 kb

The portion of the publication that is numbered and in regular print is Administrative Code DCF 251.  The portion of the publication that is within boxes and in italicized print is the commentary that was prepared by staff of the Department of Children and Families.

The publications are divided according to the sections of the rule and the pages are numbered consecutively.  There is a header on each page that contains the rule cite for the portion of the rules beginning on that page.

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