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July 1, 2026

146 • A formerly homeless family finds stable housing and it is unreasonable to use the current child care provider. • There are sudden changes in a parent’s approved activity location which makes the use of the current child care provider unreasonable. • There are sudden changes in a parent’s approved activity schedule and the provider’s hours of operation do not accommodate the family’s need for child care. • One (1) parent passes away or unexpectedly leaves a two-parent or multi- generational Wisconsin Shares Assistance Group and the current child care provider either does not have the capacity to handle the family’s additional child care need, or the hours of operation no longer supports the family’s need for child care. • There is damage to the child care facility that creates an unsafe environment for children and makes it impossible for them to continue to attend the same provider. • The child care provider is temporarily closed and is located within an area affected by a state of emergency that has been declared by the Governor. • The child care provider has a voluntary, unforeseen permanent closure and the family needs to attend an alternate provider. • The provider does not allow the child(ren) to attend due to circumstances outside of the parent’s control (for example, the center has reached their regulatory capacity or provider-to-child ratios). • The child care provider’s regulation is suspended or revoked by a regulatory authority.

Upon request, DCF Wisconsin Shares policy staff may approve limited situations of hardship at their discretion. Local agencies that receive a request which does not fall under the criteria above but is demonstrated to be a hardship on the family, should email the Child Care Help Desk at childcare@wisconsin.gov for review and approval or denial.

The request for the new authorization must be made by the parent within 10 calendar days of the start of the unforeseen circumstance. Agency workers may approve a hardship authorization on a case-by-case basis that is requested beyond the 10- calendar day reporting requirement. There may be circumstances that prevent a parent from requesting a timely hardship authorization. These circumstances may include, but are not limited to, a domestic abuse situation, a child care provider losing their license/certification, or a family being evicted from their home. Agency workers must review each case to determine the circumstance for the late request and whether it should be approved or denied.