ISSUES >> Women & Money

Child Expenses

General Tips and Resources

• Tips for Parents and Caregivers from MyMoney.gov 

Find government articles such as “Teaching Children the Financial Facts of Life” and “Protecting Kids’ Privacy.” This site also has links to help find health insurance for kids and child care services.

• Money Talks tips for working mothers

Great tips from other working moms such as a Family Organizer to keep your whole family connected and on time. Also check out the articles “10 Tips for Traveling with Children”, “Tax Tips from a Workmom”, and “Lemonade Stand Lessons for Kids.”

Child Care Assistance

Do you need help paying for or finding quality child care?

• Wisconsin Shares - Childcare Financial Assistance/Subsidy Program

Helps families pay for childcare. If the parent is eligible, child care can be subsidized for children under the age of 13.

• Search for a licensed child care facility in your area

College Savings

Find out how you can start a college savings fund for your child at any income level. Learn more from Wisconsin's state-sponsored college savings programs:

• EdVest

Start a college fund on behalf of your child with an initial contribution of $250 and a deposit of $15 per month

• Tomorrow’s scholar

Start a college fund on behalf of your child with an initial contribution of $250 and a deposit of $25 per month

 Resources for children with disabilities

• Birth to 3 Program 

Free government services provides screening and developmental programming for children with delays or disabilities

• Katie Beckett Program

Provides assistance for families with children with long-term disabilities

Nutrition

Do you need help getting affordable food for your children?

• Wisconsin FoodShare (food stamps)

Helps low-income families and individuals buy nutritious food.

• Women, Infants, and  Children (WIC)

Promotes and maintains the health and well-being of nutritionally at-risk pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children.

• WIC Farmer's Market Program

Provides WIC participants with checks to purchase locally-grown fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs at farmers’ markets.

• Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program

Provides cheaper school lunches to households that are eligible. Contact your child's school if you believe your family is eligible, but not receiving this opportunity.

• WIC Supplmental Nutrition (Commodity Surplus Program)

Provides supplemental foods donated by the USDA

Other Government Programs to help Families with Children

• Kinship Care Program  

For children being cared for out-of-home by a relative

• Wisconsin Works (W2)

This program provides employment preparation services, case management and cash assistance to eligible families.

• Emergency Assistance

Low-income families with a child may receive Emergency Assistance (EA) to help keep their home, or in some cases, to help with the cost of a new residence. Families must have a current emergency of impending homelessness, homelessness, energy crisis, fire, flood or natural disaster. Families must not have received an EA payment in the past 12 months. Families must apply for other payment options. Families also must meet other EA requirements. Apply at your local Wisconsin Works (W-2) agency. 

• To find your local W-2 agency please refer to the W-2 Agency Locator.
• Tax Credits for Low and Moderate Income Families, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Federal Child Tax Credit

Even workers whose earnings were too small to have taxes withheld can get the EIC. Families with children who claim the federal EIC are automatically eligible for the Wisconsin Earned Income Credit. The EIC may be claimed for up to 3 previous years.

For addition information on eligibility and benefit programs, visit Access Wisconsin, a one-stop web site for programs on health, nutrition and child care. https://access.wisconsin.gov/