University seeking proposals for child care facility

The Office of Child Care and Family Resources is working to improve and expand child care options with a focus on high-quality early education and care programs while responding to the increasing need for infant and toddler care. 

As part of that goal, the office is requesting proposals for one contract to address full- and part-day programming, along with services for younger children and summer programming within the facility at #39 University Houses. A decision should be made by March 1, with infant and toddler care beginning by fall 2013.

Expansion of services for younger children has been a focus of the campus early education and care plan since 1997. Eagle’s Wing, Preschool Labs and the Waisman Center have all added capacity as their facilities have evolved. Ongoing changes to the campus early care and education system will provide increased options for families.

Given the lack of facility space on campus suitable for infants and toddlers, Little Chicks was opened in 2007 through a request for proposal process. Services for infants and toddlers were a key factor in the initial renovation of the #39 University Houses site, which currently houses two separate preschool programs.

UW-Madison’s early childhood care and education centers have traditionally focused on preschool-aged children (ages 2 to 5 years), although an emerging trend over the past 10 years has resulted in the development of sick and backup care, infant and toddler care and a coordinated UW–Madison (and statewide) system of early care and education. At UW–Madison alone, seven centers provide a broad range of services.

The OCCFR is also piloting a software program in January that will allow families to apply to multiple campus programs through Web-based access. This should made it more convenient for families who apply to multiple sites and allow the campus directors to match families with potential openings within the campus system.

UW-Madison is committed to the development of a coordinated system of high-quality, affordable child care and education that addresses the work-life needs of student, faculty and staff families and fulfills institutional research, instruction, outreach and service missions.