Find out more about our providers on our Who Are Our Providers? page.

Questions to ask a potential provider

• How many children are in your care and what are their ages? See the guidelines on Child Care Ratios [pdf]
• Is your program regulated? For more information about the different forms of regulation (licensing and certification) and about City of Madison accreditation through Satellite, see our accreditation page.
• What formal child care education, such as a degree, do you have?
• What do you do if a child is sick?
• What would you do in an emergency?
• Are all children and staff are required to be immunized?
• What, if any, meals are provided?
• Do you have respite care, substitute care, and alternate care?
• How do you discipline children?
• What should my child be doing at each developmental stage?
• Is transportation available? (especially for after school and before school programs)
• How much do you charge? Are child care subsidies available?

What to look for in a child care setting

• Happy, actively engaged children
• Caring, nurturing, and warm interactions between caregiver and children
• A clean, safe, and healthy atmosphere, indoors and out
• Educational, developmentally appropriate toys and materials
• Children getting individual attention
• A child care philosophy compatible with your own approach

Check references
Providers are happy to provide contact information for families they have worked with who have agreed to serve as references.

Check YoungStar
YoungStar is the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF)'s new five-star quality rating and improvement system for child care in Wisconsin. Satellite Accreditation is recognized by the system as an indicator of quality and equals a 4-star rating on the scale.

Continue to monitor your child's care experience

• Take time to speak with the provider at pick-up/drop-off time
• Talk with your child. Is s/he content?
• Visit and observe child in child care, if possible. If not, observe your child's growth, behavior and maturity.
• Resolve questions or differences as they arise

We're here for you
If you have any questions about any Satellite provider, either before making contact with the provider or while your child is in the provider's care, please call us at 608-270-2438 or email us at satellitefcc@dcpcinc.org. The consultant who works with that provider will be happy to speak with you.