Wisconsin Resources

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Would you like to know more about child care licensing in your state or resources for children with special needs? Do you need to contact someone about child support, health care for your family, or help paying for food or heat? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Click a tab below to find those resources and more in Wisconsin.

Find out more about child care in your area. Click on the links below, or contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for one-on-one help.

Child Care Licensing

Your local child care regulatory office

Phone: Contact your local office

Website Find Your Local Office

Provider Complaint Line: Call your local licensing office

Inspection Reports

Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

Website

State Child Care Landscape

Basic facts about child care in your area

State Child Care Landscape

Wisconsin Child Care Information

Information and resources for parents looking for child care in Wisconsin

Website

Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

Website

Criminal Background Checks

Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

Website

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – YoungStar

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.

Website

ECE Shared Resources – WISER ECE

A one-stop location for ECE professionals for policies, forms, regulations, guidance, discounts, and more to save time, reduce costs, and improve quality (Note: typically requires purchase of a subscription or membership)

Website

Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.

Child Protective Services

To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child

Phone: Contact your local office

Website

Find Your Local Office

*If county is not known, call ChildHelp at 1(800) 422-4453*

Child Support

Child support application and procedures for your state

Website

Medicaid Eligibility – BadgerCare Plus

Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

Website

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.

*Wisconsin’s Children’s Health Insurance Program is included in the Medicaid program. Please contact your Medicaid office for more information.*

Website

Wisconsin Department of Health Services

State government programs and services for children and families

Website

Wisconsin COVID-19 Website

General information about COVID-19 in your state 

Website

Mental Health

State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs

Website

Car Seat Basics

Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

Website

Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.

Child Care Assistance – WI Shares Child Care Subsidy Program

Child care financial assistance programs

Phone: Contact your local office

Website

Find Your Local Office

Wisconsin Head Start Association

A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

Website

Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five

Website

Find Your Local WIC Clinic

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – Wisconsin Works (W-2)

Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

Website

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)

Federal nutrition program

Website

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)

Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

Website

Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.

Easter Seals Wisconsin

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

The Arc Wisconsin

Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

Website

Early Intervention – Birth to 3 Program

Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

Website

Services for Children with Delays or Disabilities

List of additional state programs for families of children with delays or disabilities

Website

Kinship/Relative Caregivers Programs

Resources for children in the care of a relative, member of their tribe or clan, godparent, stepparent, or any adult who has a kinship bond with a child

Website

  • Child Care

    Find out about the ins and outs of child care in your area. What is required to become a provider in your area? What requirements are there for a background check? Does your state offer any quality improvement programs?

    Child Care Licensing

    Your local child care regulatory office

    Phone: Contact your local office

    Website Find Your Local Office

    Phone: Call your local licensing office

    Inspection Reports

    Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

    Website

    State Child Care Landscape

    Basic facts about child care in your area

    State Child Care Landscape

    Wisconsin Child Care Information

    Information and resources for parents looking for child care in Wisconsin

    Website

    Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

    Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

    Website

    Criminal Background Checks

    Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

    Website

    Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – YoungStar

    Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.

    Website

    ECE Shared Resources – WISER ECE

    A one-stop location for ECE professionals for policies, forms, regulations, guidance, discounts, and more to save time, reduce costs, and improve quality (Note: typically requires purchase of a subscription or membership)

    Website

  • Health and Social Services

    Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.

    Child Protective Services

    To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child

    Phone: Contact your local office

    Website

    Find Your Local Office

    *If county is not known, call ChildHelp at 1(800) 422-4453*

    Child Support

    Child support application and procedures for your state

    Website

    Medicaid Eligibility – BadgerCare Plus

    Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

    Website

    Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

    Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.

    *Wisconsin’s Children’s Health Insurance Program is included in the Medicaid program. Please contact your Medicaid office for more information.*

    Website

    Wisconsin Department of Health Services

    State government programs and services for children and families

    Website

    Wisconsin COVID-19 Website

    General information about COVID-19 in your state 

    Website

    Mental Health

    State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs

    Website

    Car Seat Basics

    Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

    Website

  • Financial Assistance

    Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.

    Child Care Assistance – WI Shares Child Care Subsidy Program

    Child care financial assistance programs

    Phone: Contact your local office

    Website

    Find Your Local Office

    Wisconsin Head Start Association

    A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

    Website

    Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

    Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

    A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five

    Website

    Find Your Local WIC Clinic

    Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – Wisconsin Works (W-2)

    Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

    Website

    Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)

    Federal nutrition program

    Website

    Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)

    Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

    Website

  • Children with Special Needs

    Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.

    Easter Seals Wisconsin

    Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

    Website

    The Arc Wisconsin

    Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

    Website

    Early Intervention – Birth to 3 Program

    Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

    Website

    Services for Children with Delays or Disabilities

    List of additional state programs for families of children with delays or disabilities

    Website

  • Kinship/Relative Caregivers Programs

    Resources for children in the care of a relative, member of their tribe or clan, godparent, stepparent, or any adult who has a kinship bond with a child

    Website

If you find that any of the information above is incorrect, please contact us at info@childcareaware.org.

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