The Department of Children and Families created YoungStar to improve the quality of child care for Wisconsin children. Read more about YoungStar

Regulated child care is the foundation for safe child care settings. For tips on choosing child care and more, visit Child Care Info for Parents.

What is YoungStar?

YoungStar is Wisconsin's child care quality rating and improvement system. We give parents tools and information to raise happy, healthy kids. We help preschools and child care providers give children safe, nurturing places to grow. How do we do it?

  • By objectively measuring child care quality from one to five stars for thousands of child care providers.
  • By giving parents an easy way to find programs that match their family's lifestyle, budget, and special needs.
  • By supporting providers with tools and training to deliver high quality care.
  • By setting a consistent standard for child care quality.

What is Regulated Child Care?

Regulated child care provides a foundation for safe child care settings by conducting background checks, regular inspections and complaint investigations. Types of regulated child care include:

  • Certified Care (3 or fewer children under age 7 in care)
  • Licensed Family Child Care (up to 8 children under age 7)
  • Licensed Group Child Care (9 or more children under age 7)
  • Day Camp (seasonal program for 4 or more children ages 3 & up)

Additional Information:


Contact your Child Care Resource & Referral Center for more help finding child care

(888) 713.KIDS
info@supportingfamiliestogether.org
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Select to search for a provider in your area. You do not need to enter all fields; just enter those which are applicable.

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Public schools that are participating in YoungStar will appear if you search for group centers.

Limit search to providers who offer daytime care and/or night care.


Child care providers generally offer care for children of a limited age range. Enter your child's age, or your children's ages here. If you have more than two children, enter the youngest and oldest ages of the children for whom you are seeking care.



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All providers serving children who receive Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy must participate in YoungStar. Other providers may choose to participate. Some providers may not have been rated yet, even though they have applied to participate in YoungStar.

Select whether you would like to limit your search to providers participating in YoungStar. You may also limit your search to providers with specific star ratings.

Meets highest levels of quality standards
Meets elevated levels of quality standards
Meets proficient levels of quality standards
Meets health and safety standards
Does not meet health and safety standards


Select whether to limit your search to providers who are either licensed or certified.

If you are searching for a particular provider, you can search for them by name.

If available, you can search for a specific facility by licensed facility number, or provider and location number.

 
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Disclaimer: This information is provided as a public service by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The Department neither endorses any child care center nor guarantees that this information is accurate, up-to-date or complete. This information, which should not be used as a sole source in selecting a center, does not replace official information sources. Users of this website are responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness and/or suitability of all information. Persons wishing current, official information may contact the appropriate regional licensing office or county/tribal certification office.

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