Helping Families Access Wisconsin Shares Child Care Support

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) has released an updated guide—DCF‑P‑5605—designed to help families understand how to access and use the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. This resource walks parents step‑by‑step through the process of securing financial assistance for high‑quality child care, empowering families to pursue employment, education, and stability.

What Families Need to Know

According to DCF, Wisconsin Shares provides financial support so families can choose from regulated, reliable, and high‑quality child care options that meet their needs. The guide outlines four key steps:

shares instructions  shares instructions

Why This Matters

Reliable child care is essential for family well‑being and children’s development. By making the Wisconsin Shares process easier to navigate, DCF helps reduce barriers for working parents—strengthening both families and communities across Wisconsin.

Learn More

Families and providers can read the full guidance and access additional resources on the Wisconsin DCF website; access a pdf version of the handout above here; and view a previously recorded webinar Unlocking Opportunities: Understanding the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program on WOSTA's YouTube channel.

The Benefits of Membership

Becoming a member of the Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance is FREE and comes with some benefits.  Members will gain access to exclusive discussion boards and receive early notifications about discounts and special offers. Join us in supporting school-age programming with your membership! 

Please note: Due to changes in available funding at the state level, we are no longer able to offer reduced registration rates for Alternative Pathway courses.

Join Today

OST Resource Center

The Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance is here to provide supports and resources to YOU and YOUR PROGRAM through our OST Resource Center.  The Resource Center contains content on topics such as: Mental and Emotional Wellness, Sustaining a Program, Behavior Guidance, STEM and more - as well as links to YouTube and Buzzsprout!  In addition to content, you can request personalized technical assistance using the Email Us button found in Quick Links. We are here to help you - so let's get started!  

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