Original blog post by Alicia Gee, updated and edited for Fall 2023 by Kathryn Wacker and Lina Raouf Badger Volunteers Spring/Fall 2023. 

Finding and accessing assistance for your child can be daunting as a parent. From educational materials to health and safety information, there are many options. This blog post will look at some of the best resources for families with young children. 

WI State Benefits & Health/Nutrition Programs

State benefits apply to people in various circumstances; however, they are an essential resource for families with young children. You’ve probably heard of BadgerCare and FoodShare, but did you know that there are many other programs you can apply for through the same process? Applying for state benefits is beneficial not only for the programs you may end up qualifying for but also because it will save you a lot of time when applying for other programs. By submitting one application for state benefits, you’re applying to many additional programs. Additionally, you can expedite your family’s enrollment and approval for other programs by applying and determining eligibility for these state benefits. Many assistance programs are eligible for the group benefits, including BadgerCare and FoodShare, as a way to shortcut having to go through another application process. 

Access Wisconsin State Benefits Include

• FoodShare – You’ve probably heard of food stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). In Wisconsin, we call the program FoodShare. You can use your FoodShare benefits at most stores. You also can use them at many farmers’ markets, where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables most months out of the year. Click here to learn more.
• BadgerCare Plus is a healthcare program. It helps low-income children, pregnant people, and adults in Wisconsin. Click here to learn more.
• Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy – Many Wisconsin families struggle to find affordable and quality child care. But it’s not a challenge families have to face alone. The Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program invests in eligible working families to help make quality child care more accessible and affordable. How? By covering a portion of their monthly childcare costs. Why? Because when families get a little help — more is possible! Knowing their child is safe and well cared for, parents and caregivers can take advantage of opportunities that create strength, growth, and success.
• Wisconsin Works – ​​Wisconsin Works, or W-2, is a job-based program that provides cash assistance to eligible parents to help you prepare for a career. In Dane County, Forward Service Corporation is our W-2 agency, click here to learn more.

How to Apply

You can apply for all of the above benefits (and more) using a singular application. Follow either the online, in-person, or over-the-phone steps below to apply. 

• Guideline for applying: https://access.wisconsin.gov/access/ (scroll towards the bottom)

ONLINE 

• Go to https://access.wisconsin.gov/access/ 
• Create an account/log-in
• Click “Apply for Benefits”
• Click here for a step-by-step guide

IN-PERSON

• Dane County Job Center 
  • Address: 1819 Aberg Ave, Suite D, Madison, WI 53703
  • Walk-In Hours: M, Th, F 8:30–4:30

• The Beacon (if experiencing homelessness)
  • Address: 615 E Washington Ave, Office 201, Madison, WI 53703
  • Open all days of the week, 8 am-5 pm 

OVER THE PHONE

Call Capital Consortium at 888-794-5556

Other State Benefits Programs

Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program

WIC works to improve the health of women, infants, and children by providing healthy foods, health information, and referrals to health care. 

Application: https://wicmomstrong.com/

Eligibility: 

• Live in Wisconsin (if you live elsewhere, your state also has a WIC program)
• Be pregnant, breastfeeding, or a new mother, be an infant up to age one, or be a child up to age 5.
• Have a health or nutrition need.
• Be income eligible (click on application and scroll down to check

First Appointment 

• Bring the following: 
  • Proof of identity 
  • Proof of address 
  • Proof of income 
  • Confirmation of pregnancy if expecting 

After Appointment 

• You will receive eWIC card to purchase healthy foods from the grocery store 
• You will have appointments at the WIC clinic every 3 months

If you have any questions about applying you can make an appointment. Call (608) 267-1111 to schedule an appointment.

Telehealth appointments on:

• Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:30am – 4:30pm
• Wednesdays from 8:30am – 6:00pm
• Thursdays from 12 pm – 4:30 pm
•  Fridays from 8:00am- 4:30pm

In-person appointments at two locations:

• South Madison Office, 2230 S. Park St:
  • Tuesdays 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
  • Thursdays 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm
• East Washington Office, 2705 E. Washington Ave:
  • Mondays 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
  • Wednesdays 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
  • Fridays 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

SCHIP works to provide no-cost or low-cost health coverage for eligible children in Wisconsin. There is no limited enrollment period, you can enroll whenever!

Application:

1. Create an account: https://www.healthcare.gov/create-account
2. You will be contacted if you qualify for SCHIP OR Call 1-800-318-2596

Additional Resources for Young Children

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CHILDCARE

Reach Dane  

Reach Dane provides high-quality early childhood services to over 1,000 underserved children ages 0-5 in Dane and Green County through center-based and home visitation programs. Reach Dane offers a variety of program options designed to meet the individual needs of families.

Community Coordinated Child Care, Inc. (4-C)  

4-C maintains a database of all regulated childcare programs within the 4-C eleven-county service delivery area (Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Rock, Sauk, and Walworth counties and the Ho-Chunk Nation). Referral Specialists assist parents with their search for early care and education for their children. Information from the referral database provides parents with a current list of regulated childcare professionals that allows parents to locate care to meet their specific needs.

• Hours: Weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm **by appointment only**

SUPPLIES

Babies & Beyond Sharing Center

The Sharing Center offers free baby items for women and families with children ages 0-4. Families can shop for free once a month. They provide baby clothes, diapers, pull-ups, formula, books, toys, maternity clothes, breast pumps, and equipment. Remember to bring an ID to register. Clients are served on a first-come, first-served basis, and check the limits of what is available to you

• Address: 1922 S Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI 53716

• Hours:
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 5 pm-7 pm
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 11 am-1 pm
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 9 am-12 pm
  • Sunday: Closed

The Village Diaper Bank via SJC Essentials Pantry 

The Village Diaper Bank provides free diapers to families in need so each child can count on 100 diapers or 50 training pants per month with no household limits. The organization cannot distribute diapers directly to individuals, so you must go to a local partner agency, such as the SJC (if you are interested in seeing which other organizations are partner agencies, click here). Diapers and wipes are available every week through our Pantry program. 

Request online via the SJC website here or come during Pantry hours, Fridays, 1-3 pm.