Children's Cottage

W10460 County Road Pp, Elroy, WI 53929 · Juneau County

28cited violations

6marked serious

8inspection visits

1enforcement actions

Program

Type: Group center
Licensed capacity: 48
Ages: 6 weeks – 12 years, 11 months
Hours: 05:30 AM-05:30 PM (Jan-Dec)
Licensee: Kari Benish
Contact: Benish, Kari
Phone: 608-462-8356
YoungStar: 3 Stars
Regulated since: 03/10/2009
DCF IDs: Facility 1014062 · Provider 0000556350/002
Official record: DCF Child Care Finder

Violations by category

Cleanliness & sanitation 1
Illness & medication 3
Food & allergies 1
Staff background & training 16
Records & paperwork 2
Other 5

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	10	3	Cleanliness & sanitation (1), Illness & medication (2), Food & allergies (1), Staff background & training (6)
2025	18	3	Illness & medication (1), Staff background & training (10), Records & paperwork (2), Other (5)

Enforcement actions

May 13, 2026 — Warning Letter
251.05(3)(c) (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training ) on 5/1/2026 : Staff B was missing documentation of having obtained a certificate of completion for infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use from an agency approved by the Department within 3 months of beginning to work with children.

A warning letter is not an enforcement action under Wisconsin law and carries no appeal rights. Orders and forfeitures are enforcement actions and can be appealed.

Inspection visits

May 21, 2026 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Staff background & training Serious
  Fingerprints not completed for the following individuals: Individual 001
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
DCF visit report
May 1, 2026 Licensing visit · 551 rules checked, 9 not met 2 serious
- Illness & medication
  Health History and Emergency Care Plan information is required to be on file prior to a child's first day of attendance. This information was not observed in the file for Child #4 on the day of the monitoring visit.
  
  DCF 251.04(6)(a)6. — Child Record - Health History
- Illness & medication
  Documentation that indicates the child's immunization history is in compliance with s. 252.04, Stats., and ch. DHS 144 was not observed in the files for Child #1 and Child #2.
  
  DCF 251.04(6)(a)6m. — Child Record - Immunization History
- Staff background & training Serious
  Staff B was missing documentation of having received training within the past two years on child abuse and neglect laws, identification, and reporting.
  
  DCF 251.04(8)(a) — Mandated Reporting - Child Abuse & Neglect
- Staff background & training
  The file for Staff B and C did not contain documentation of a physical examination report completed within 12 months before or within 30 days after beginning work with children in care, indicating the person is free from illness detrimental to children, including tuberculosis, and physically able to work with young children.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)3.a. — Staff Record - Physical Examination
- Staff background & training
  Staff B and C were missing documentation that was available to review at the time of the monitoring visit of having received a complete orientation within their first week at the center.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)8. — Staff Record - Orientation
- Staff background & training
  Staff B was missing documentation of having obtained a certificate of completion for infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use from an agency approved by the Department within 3 months of beginning to work with children.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(c) — Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training
- Staff background & training Serious
  Staff B and C were missing documentation of having received a complete orientation within their first week at the center.
  
  DCF 251.05(4)(a) — Staff Orientation - Develop, Implement, Document
- Cleanliness & sanitation
  The sleeping surface in one of the cribs in the one and under room was observed to be used for storage of excess toys, preventing it from being maintained in a clean condition as required by rule.
  
  DCF 251.07(4)(cm) — Naps Or Rest Periods - Sleeping Surfaces - Children 1 And Older
- Food & allergies
  An infant was observed during the monitoring visit in a bouncy seat sitting next to a staff person with a bottle propped up. Rule states that staff shall hold a child who is unable to hold a bottle whenever a bottle is given and that bottles may not be propped.
  
  DCF 251.09(3)(a)9. — Infant & Toddler - Bottle Feeding
DCF visit report
Dec 16, 2025 Licensing visit · 9 rules checked, 6 not met 2 serious
- Other
  The center was not in compliance when the director gave a false name over the phone to a licensor calling to follow up on outstanding violation paperwork.
  
  DCF 251.04(2)(c) — Current, Accurate Information
- Staff background & training Serious
  The center was not in compliance when Staff B worked at the center prior to completing a child care background check.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when there was no record of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training was found on site for Staff A.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(c) — Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when there was no record of Child Abuse & Neglect training on file for Staff B, required for each employee or volunteer that comes into contact with the children.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(cm) — Child Abuse & Neglect - Biennial Training
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when staff A, an assistant child care teacher, did not have documentation of having completed a qualified course in early childhood education.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(g)2. — Assistant Child Care Teacher - Qualifications
- Staff background & training Serious
  The center was not in compliance when there was no record of a staff orientation on file for Staff A and B.
  
  DCF 251.05(4)(a) — Staff Orientation - Develop, Implement, Document
DCF visit report
Oct 23, 2025 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met
- Records & paperwork
  The center was not in compliance when there was no plan of correction returned to the department for violations cited on a visit conducted on August 12, 2025. The plan of correction from this visit was due September 19, 2025 and a reminder email was sent October 6, 2025.
  
  DCF 251.04(3)(f) — Report - Plan Of Correction
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Sep 8, 2025 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met
- Records & paperwork
  At least 30 days before the continuation review date of the license, an applicant for license renewal shall submit to the department the following materials: 1. The license renewal fee and any forfeiture due and owing. 2. Any changes to center policies.
  
  DCF 251.11(4)(b) — Continuation License - Application Materials Submission
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Aug 12, 2025 Licensing visit · 566 rules checked, 6 not met 1 serious
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when no staff record form was found on site for staff B.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)1. — Staff Record - Personal Information
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when no record of a staff physical examination was found on site for staff B.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)3.a. — Staff Record - Physical Examination
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when no record of a staff orientation could be found on site for Staff A.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)8. — Staff Record - Orientation
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when no record could be found of current cardiopulmonary resuscitation training was found for staff B.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(c) — Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training
- Staff background & training
  The center was not in compliance when no record of child abuse and neglect training was found on site for staff B.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(cm) — Child Abuse & Neglect - Biennial Training
- Illness & medication Serious
  The center was not in compliance when expired medications found on site could not be administered as labeled and authorized.
  
  DCF 251.07(6)(f)5. — Medication Administration - As Labeled & Authorized
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Mar 10, 2025 Licensing visit · 4 rules checked, 4 not met
- Other
  The center was not in compliance when there was no current certificate of insurance on file. Documents were requested by email on December 17, 2024 and January 17,2025.
  
  DCF 251.04(2)(g)1. — Certificate Of Insurance - Dates Of Coverage
- Other
  The center was not in compliance when there was no current radon testing results on file. Documents were requested by email on December 17, 2024 and January 17,2025.
  
  DCF 251.06(2)(p)1.a. — Radon - Testing
- Other
  The center was not in compliance when there was no current annual bacteria test found on file. Documents were requested by email on December 17, 2024 and January 17,2025.
  
  DCF 251.06(6)(b)1.a. — Private Well - Annual Bacteria Test
- Other
  The center was not in compliance when there was no current annual nitrate test found on file. Documents were requested by email on December 17, 2024 and January 17,2025.
  
  DCF 251.06(6)(b)2.a. — Private Well - Annual Nitrate Test
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Dec 3, 2024 Licensing visit · 408 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)

Get the full file

DCF publishes about 3 years of monitoring. Older history, complaint files and self-reported incidents require a public records request. Wisconsin's public records law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why. Electronic copies are generally free.

Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)

Send to: DCF Records Custodian · DCFRecordsRequest@wisconsin.gov · fax (608) 422-7161 · 201 W. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703
Copy: DCF Southern Regional Licensing Office · DCFPlicBRLSRO@wisconsin.gov · 608-422-6765

Show the letter text

Letter text

Dear Records Custodian,

Under Wisconsin's public records law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, I request copies of the following records for the child care program Children'S Cottage, W10460 County Road Pp, Elroy, WI 53929-9722 (DCF facility number 1014062; provider number 0000556350, location 002; applicant/licensee number 7100000777), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every licensing or certification monitoring, renewal and follow-up visit report, including noncompliance statements, compliance statements and rule-monitoring summaries.
2. Every complaint investigation: intake summaries, investigation reports, and the finding for each allegation.
3. Every warning letter, order, forfeiture or other enforcement action, with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of correction the program submitted, and the department's response.
5. Every incident the program reported to the department (for example under DCF 251.04(3) or 250.04(3)): injuries requiring medical care, prohibited actions, suspected abuse or neglect, communicable disease, and children whose whereabouts were unknown.

I understand that child and reporter identities, and material made confidential by Wis. Stat. § 48.981, may be redacted; please release the remainder and cite the basis for anything withheld. Please provide the records electronically (PDF by email). If the estimated cost exceeds $5.00, please send me an estimate before proceeding. Please confirm receipt of this request.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

If something is happening now, file a child care complaint with DCF. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, via the Child Care Finder and the licensed and certified directories. History last read Sep 30, 2026. Violation text is DCF's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan.