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  FAMILY SERVICES  

 

As a member of Satellite, you are helping your provider give the very best care possible to your child and to others. Satellite's provider services give your provider access to support, training, and equipment available only through Satellite. Your membership in Satellite helps your provider achieve and maintain accreditation, a high standard of care that comes with close monitoring by Satellite staff.

Who are our providers?
For more about our accredited providers, in their own words, see our Who Are Our Providers? page. Read What Families Say About Satellite.

Is your provider a Satellite member?
Enroll your family in Satellite with our online form.

We're here to help you
Feel free to request our child care referral list any time your child care needs change. Get help in choosing a provider. See our questions about child care page for help with adjusting to care, working with children with special needs, and other common issues. See our calendar for upcoming trainings designed for parents as well as providers. Our consultants are available to answer questions about child care and give referrals to parenting resources.

If at any time you have questions about a Satellite provider you are working with or considering working with, the consultant who works closely with that provider will be happy to speak with you. Contact us at 608-270-3438 or satellitefcc@dcpcinc.org.

Learn about WMELS
The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) specify developmental expectations for children from birth through entrance to first grade. The standards reflect attention to all the domains of a child's learning and development. Each domain is divided into sub-domains. Each sub-domain includes developmental expectations, program standards, performance standards and developmental continuum. Samples of children's behavior and adult strategies are also provided. Copies of the book can be downloaded or ordered through Collaborating Partners.

ASQ
Learn more about using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire with this ASQ guide [pdf].

CPR
DCPC offers Adult, Child and Infant AHA Heartsaver AED CPR courses, in either English or Spanish, at $40 per class. Certification is good for two years. Classes are open to all community members. See our calendar for dates, and fill out and send in the registration form [pdf] two weeks prior to the class.

Need help paying for child care?
Funding for those who qualify is available from the following sources:

State of Wisconsin
The State of Wisconsin's child care subsidy program is Wisconsin Shares, which is administered by Wisconsin Works, or "W-2." Because funding is administered by county W-2 agencies, it is often referred to as "county funding."

City of Madison
The Office of Community Services offers child care subsidies. See the City of Madison Child Care Assistance Program Fact Sheet [pdf] and Brochure [pdf].

University of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin Madison Office of Child Care and Family Resources offers financial assistance to income eligible student parents who have the greatest need for child care through the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP).

Early Head Start
If you receive city or county child care funding (see above) and are looking for care for an infant, enrolling with an Early Head Start (EHS) provider may make you eligible for EHS’s many parenting support services, including partial subsidization of child care copayments.  On our referral list you will see which providers are EHS approved. If you have questions about Early Head Start, please call Keith Brownlow at the Dane County Parent Council at 608-275-6740.

Free events and opportunities
See our community page for ongoing activities and free resources for families and children.

Read our Newsletter
We regularly publish an electronic newsletter with information for both providers and families.
Recent issues:

Summer 2012 (pdf English)

Summer 2012 (pdf Spanish)

Winter 2012 [pdf English]
Winter 2012 [pdf Spanish]
Fall 2011 [pdf English]
Fall 2011 [pdf Spanish]
Spring 2011 [pdf English]
Spring 2011 [pdf Spanish]
Winter 2011 [pdf]
Fall 2010 [pdf]
Spring 2010 [pdf]

Mailing list
All are welcome to join our electronic mailing list and receive our newsletters and information about upcoming trainings. We do not share our mailing list with anyone. Send your email address to satellitefcc@dcpcinc.org.

Tell other families about Satellite!
Share our Satellite brochure [pdf]

What do all those letters stand for?
NAEYC? FCCERS? WMELS? See our guide to acronyms commonly used in the child care field.

Questions?
Contact us at 608-270-3438 or satellitefcc@dcpcinc.org.