Enhanced Child Care Referrals

4-C works with businesses and realtors who are looking to support their employees and clients with our Enhanced Child Care Referral service. This service is currently available to those looking for care in the following counties: Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Rock, Sauk, and Walworth. 

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What are the two types of child care referrals? 

Enhanced Child Care Referrals

A paid service offered to businesses and realtors interested in contracting with 4-C to provide this benefit to their employees/clients, and include:

  • Pre-screened child care provider profiles* with details regarding each program’s openings, cost of care, and any additional information requested by the parent/guardian
  • Average Child Care Rates Information
  • Selecting Quality Child Care Checklist
  • Information on YoungStar, Wisconsin’s child care quality rating system
  • Other current parent/child care resources
Standard Child Care Referrals

A free service available to anyone looking for child care (learn more here)

  • The intake process is similar to Enhanced Child Care Referrals, but without the additional pre-screening service or resources
  • If a parent/guardian is interested in learning more about a child care providers* on the list our Referral Specialist has generated, they are responsible for contacting the provider themself in order to learn details regarding the child care program’s openings, pricing information, and program philosophy

*Provider profiles are considered to be strictly referrals and not recommendations or endorsements by 4-C. Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to visit each program and ask questions about policies and procedures of the program before making a final decision. Continuous monitoring of the program is recommended.

Employers & Realtors who have offered this benefit report:

  • Improved employee morale

  • Reduced absenteeism

  • Lower turnover

  • Enhances recruitment

  • Increased employee productivity

  • Improved employer-employee relations

Why contract with 4-C?

  • 4-C is community-based and strives to equitably meet the needs of all children

  • 4-C is part of a network of non-profit Child Care Resource and Referral agencies serving families and child care providers across Wisconsin

  • 4-C maintains up-to-date information on regulated child care programs

  • 4-C employs early childhood experts who work directly with child care providers to implement state-wide and regional programming

  • 4-C develops and offers quality training and technical assistance to early care providers

How Enhanced Referrals Work

Process:

  1. Once a business or realtor (Referral Partner) reads and signs the Enhanced Referral Service Agreement Policies and Contract (sample), a 4-C Referral Specialist will reach out to begin the one year service agreement
  2. When an employee or client of the Referral Partner is interested in receiving an Enhanced Child Care Referral, they will contact the 4-C Referral Specialist, who will verify their eligibility with the Referral Partner before continuing the process
  3. Once their eligibility is confirmed, the parent/family member seeking an Enhanced Referral will discuss their specific child care needs with a 4-C Referral Specialist, who will begin the search
  4. The Referral Specialist will contact regulated child care programs and providers that may match the needs previously outlined to verify current openings, cost of care, and additional information as requested by the parent/family member
  5. This pre-screened list of provider profiles*, along with other resources, will be sent directly to the requesting parent/family member, who can then use this detailed information to determine which program best fits their needs
  6. The parent/family member may then contact the child care program directly to begin the enrollment process
  7. 4-C will bill the Referral Partner monthly for any services rendered (see Fees & Payment for more information)
Fees & Payment:

  • The Referral Partner pays an annual $50 fee, invoiced after the contract is signed

  • Each Enhanced Referral costs $200 (maximum two children), and will be invoiced monthly

  • An additional cost of $50 per child (after two) may be charged

  • 4-C will bill the Referral Partner monthly (as applicable)

  • Each invoice will include the employee/client’s name and/or the annual fee information
    • No personal details regarding the parent/guardian, family, or child/ren will be included in the invoice
    • The pre-screened Enhanced Referral list will only be given to the employee/client, who may share it with the Referral Partner at their discretion

  • Invoices must be paid within 30 days of receipt

*Provider profiles are considered to be strictly referrals and not recommendations or endorsements by 4-C. Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to visit each program and ask questions about policies and procedures of the program before making a final decision. Continuous monitoring of the program is recommended.

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