Reporting a
Problem with a Center
From the WI Department of
Regulation and Licensing website...
"Once your child is enrolled in a
childcare setting, you will be visiting the program regularly. Because
the licensing specialist is only able to make one or two routine
monitoring visits each year, the parents’ help in observing what is
happening at a center is critical. If you are having a problem with a
center or believe that a licensing rule may have been violated you are
encouraged to call the
regional
licensing office to talk with a licensing specialist.
Each program licensed by the Bureau of Regulation and Licensing
agrees to follow rules that are designed to protect the children in
care. If you believe that a center may be violating one of the licensing
rules, you may file a complaint with the licensing office. You may
report a complaint over the telephone, via e-mail or in writing to the
regional
licensing office that serves the facility. Reports may be filed
anonymously. Every complaint is investigated. Some situations (such as
payment or tuition disputes) are not covered by the licensing rules.
These concerns will not be accepted as complaints.
When filing a complaint, please give as much information as possible
about your concerns. This information will be helpful to the licensing
specialist who will investigate the complaint. Supplying dates, times,
the exact location (room or area of the center) of the suspected
violation, and names of people involved or other potential witnesses
will help the investigator gather information to determine whether a
rule violation occurred.
A licensing specialist will be assigned to investigate the complaint.
This investigation may include an unannounced visit to the program to
observe conditions, interviews with the licensee and current or former
staff members and, if appropriate, a check of center records.
After the investigation is completed, the licensing specialist will
determine whether the allegations in the complaint are founded (it was
determined with reasonable certainty that a rule violation occurred),
unfounded (it was determined with reasonable certainty that no rule
violation occurred) or unable to be substantiated (it could not be
determined with reasonable certainty whether a rule violation occurred).
Any violations noted are listed on a Statement of Non-Compliance and
Corrective Action Plan. Depending on the severity of the violations,
other enforcement actions could be initiated. The investigating
licensing specialist will prepare a report on the investigation and
subsequent findings. The licensee is notified of the investigative
finding and you may request to receive the findings as well. The report
is then placed in the center file and shared with others who may want to
know about a center’s complaint and compliance history.
LocateKidCare.com obtains reports of licenses on a bi-annual basis. For this reason centers listed here may have a revoked license and still appear as valid. Always check the status of a centers license. If you have updated information regarding a license status please contact us.
