Family Resource Library

• The Open Seat – A free campus food pantry for UW–Madison students facing food insecurity
• Badger Fare Program – Offers short-term meal assistance through donated dining dollars to students in need
• FoodShare Wisconsin (ACCESS) – A state program that helps eligible individuals and families purchase food through an EBT card
• The Keep Food Pantry – A local pantry providing free groceries and hygiene products to those in need near campus
• Find Food Pantries Near You – A searchable map of food pantries and meal programs available throughout Dane County
• Slow Food UW – A student-run organization offering affordable, locally sourced meals on campus
• Summer Food Program (MMSD) – Offers free, nutritious meals to children and teens 18 and under at various community sites during the summer months
• Campus & Community Food Resources – A roundup of food access points on and near campus, including The Open Seat and meal programs
• Double Dollars Program – Matches SNAP/EBT dollars spent at participating farmers’ markets to help families buy fresh produce
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – A federal nutrition program that provides healthy food, breastfeeding support, and health referrals to pregnant individuals, new parents, and young children

• St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Vouchers – Receive vouchers up to $50 in value to purchase clothing at St. Vincent de Paul
• The Clothing Center – Free winter jackets, snowpants, gloves and boots for adults and children on October 3, 2026 from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, while supplies last.
• Koats 4 Kids – Join the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County on Friday, October 23, 2026 from 4:00–6:00 PM to receive a free winter coat for your child.
• Basic Needs Request (UW Students) – Fill out a form to receive basic needs materials such as hygiene products, clothing, or food
• UW Basic Needs Resources – A library of basic needs resources for the UW community
• TAA Diaper Program – Diaper bank that receives diapers through the Village Diaper Bank for members of the Teaching Assistants Association at UW–Madison
• Babies & Beyond Sharing Center – Offering free baby items including diapers, bottles, clothing, and more for children ages 0-4 to families in need
• Project Babies – Offers free baby and toddler items to families in need and coordinates family-friendly community events

• UW–Madison Campus Alerts – Sign up for WiscAlerts, UW–Madison’s official emergency notification system, to receive texts and emails when there are campus emergencies
• BadgerSAFE – A safety app for students, staff, parents and community members that delivers safety info directly to your phone and provides resources such as Friend Walk, the “I’m OK” feature, safety alerts, and more campus safety resources

Medical

• UW Health – Financial Assistance Program – Free or discounted care to eligible patients who are uninsured or underinsured and meet specific family income guidelines.
• SSM Health – Financial Assistance and Billing – SSM Health (which includes Dean Medical Group) provides financial assistance and sliding-scale discounts for emergency and medically necessary care to patients who qualify based on household size and income.
• GHC-SCW – Medical Billing Department – Group Health Cooperative helps members experiencing financial hardship manage their medical costs through custom payment plans and direct coordination with Member Services.

Dental

• Access Community Health Centers – Dental Care – Access provides comprehensive dental services for low-income, uninsured, or underinsured Madison-area residents using a sliding fee scale based on household size and income.
• More Smiles Wisconsin – Affordable Dental Health – This community clinic offers deeply discounted, income-based preventive and restorative dental care for uninsured individuals and families who fall below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, serving children and adults ages 8 and up.

Vision

• Prevent Blindness Wisconsin – Vision Care Voucher Program – This program distributes vouchers that cover the complete cost of an eye exam and a pair of eyeglasses for qualifying low-income, uninsured children and adults who do not have any vision insurance or BadgerCare Plus.

Prescriptions

• NeedyMeds – Patient Assistance Program Locator – This national non-profit database helps individuals easily search for and apply to manufacturer-sponsored drug assistance programs, free clinics, and sliding-scale healthcare options.
• RxAssist – Patient Assistance Program Database – A comprehensive directory that connects patients with pharmaceutical company programs to help them obtain their prescribed brand-name medications for free or at a very low cost.

Specialized Support for Children with Disabilities

• Dane County DHS – Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program – This program connects families with specialized Medicaid funding to help cover the cost of adaptive aids, home modifications, respite care, and therapies for children with significant disabilities.

• Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) – Health insurance for domestic students, international students, and international scholars at UW–Madison
• University Health Services (UHS) Gynecology – Provides a spectrum of gynecology services
• BadgerCare Plus – State healthcare program that provides health coverage for low-income Wisconsin residents
• Covering Wisconsin – UW-Extension program helping connect Wisconsin residents with health insurance and other health support programs
• Immunizations – Dane County Public Health vaccination information and resources for adults, children and infants
• Wisconsin Immunization Registry – Statewide database where residents can find their or their child(ren)’s immunization/vaccine records
• Sexual Health – Dane County Public Health sexual health information and resources including birth control, pregnancy testing, and sexual health testing and treatment
• Wisconsin Well Woman Program – Dane County Public Health program for low-income women with limited or no health insurance, offering breast and cervical cancer screenings

• UW Recreation & Wellbeing (RecWell) – Recreational and wellbeing programs for students and the wider UW community

• Well Badger Resource Center – Resources for community, social, health, and government programs
• Drug Poisoning Prevention – Information for safe drug use and storage
• MedDrop – Prescription medication disposal program
• Early Childhood Health Consultation – free webinars, podcasts, and resources

• African American Breastfeeding Alliance (AABA) of Dane County – Provides support, individual consultation, and resources
• La Leche League of Madison – Provides breastfeeding support and education through parent-to-parent connection
• Roots4Change (Raíces para el Cambio) Co-op – Provides resources and information for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding
• Madison Area Donor Milk Alliance – Donate milk and get free donor milk (milk donors have been tested)

• OCCFR Parent Classes & Events – Free parenting classes, individual parent coaching, and family events for UW-affiliated families
• UW-Extension Parenting and Family Relationships – Classes, workshops, and conferences covering a wide variety of parenting topics
• Raising Wisconsin’s Children Conference – A free, annual virtual workshop focused on raising children during tough times
• Parents Place – Parent classes and community education
• Babies & Beyond Community Classes & Sessions – Learn about upcoming opportunities to learn about Dane County parent resources or baby basics and positive parenting
• Safe Sleep Program – A program by Babies & Beyond providing access to safe sleeping environments (cribs, bassinets, pack-n-plays) for families in need

• Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (Wi-AIMH) Micro-Learning Videos – Series of short videos covering parenting topics
• SPARKS – Video series that walks parents through each routine recommended doctor’s visit for infants and children
• MyBabyGains – Organization focused on increasing awareness about the importance of physical play and face-to-face interaction for babies’ development. Resources include videos, reports, activities, and informational PDFs.
• Books:
  • How to Talk So Kids Will Listen – Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
  • The Explosive Child – Ross W. Greene
  • The Whole-Brain Child – Daniel J Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson

• Process-Oriented Art Activities for Preschoolers – A free e-book by Cigdem Unal containing developmentally-appropriate art activities for children
• Sensory Activities for Babies and Young Toddlers – A free e-book by Cigdem Unal containing developmentally-appropriate sensory activities for babies and toddlers
• Play Dough Recipes for Young Children – A free e-book by Cigdem Unal containing a variety of play dough and silly putty recipes and ideas for sensory play
• RecWell At-Home Activities – List of fun, accessible activities for children to do at home. Created during COVID lockdown but still great for a rainy day!

• Play and Learn – A fun, interactive, free program for children 0-3 years and their caregivers who reside in the Madison Metropolitan School District
• Madison Public Library Storytime – Madison Public Libraries offer storytimes for babies and young children at all branches across Madison. Children can listen, talk, sing, read, write, and play with other kids their age through programming designed to support early literacy skill-building

• Madison Reading Project – Connects the Madison community with free books and literacy resources to inspire a love for reading in young readers
• Good Toys by Age – Descriptions and recommendations for age-appropriate toys for children, created by NAEYC
• Recommended Book List by Age – Lists of recommended books sorted by age, created by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center in the School of Education at UW–Madison

• PBS Kids – Activities and online educational games and videos for children
• ABCya – Educational online games by grade level
• ABC Mouse – Online educational program designed for children ages 2-8, offering a comprehensive curriculum for preschool through 2nd grade
• Adventure Academy – Online educational program by the creators of ABC Mouse, designed for children ages 8-13
• STEMIE – Resources and information about STEM learning for young children

• University Special Student Services – Resources and information for nontraditional students, such as returning adult students
• International Student Services – Resources and support for international students at UW–Madison
• Multicultural Student Center – Provides support, advocacy, and co-curricular experiences that center, affirm and celebrate the varied and intersectional experiences of all UW–Madison students
• First-Generation Badgers – Program enhancing coordination and programmatic support among campus offices, offers opportunities for connection, and informs development of services for current and future first-generation students
• Gender and Sexuality Campus Center – Supports LGBTQ+ students and their communities at UW–Madison
• Transfer Transition Program – Support, information, and assistance for UW–Madison transfer students
• University Veteran Services – Provides support and resources to military-connected students by fostering personal transitions and pursuit of academic success

• UW Financial Aid Financial Emergency Support – A comprehensive list of many emergency financial support options for UW–Madison students
• Division of Continuing Studies Emergency Support Fund – Emergency grant assistance for Adult, Single Parent, and Nontraditional Students
• Office of Student Assistance and Support Crisis Loans & Grants – Short term crisis loans and grants for students experiencing financial hardship as a result of unexpected life events or circumstances
• International Student Services Emergency Assistance – Emergency financial assistance for students on F-1 or J-1 visas

• Student Parent Emergency Child Care Grant – Discretionary child care grant available to students experiencing emergencies or family related issues that leave them unable to pay for their regulated child care
• Mary Czynszak-Lyne University Staff Child Care Award – An emergency, one-time grant for employees with a University Staff appointment who need help covering their child care expenses in order to work
• The Respite Center – Provides emergency child care and respite for children ages 0-14, parent support, and crisis counseling

• City of Madison Emergency Assistance – Emergency assistance with energy, housing, child care, FoodShare, healthcare, counseling, and financial education
• Domestic Abuse Intervention Services – Comprehensive services for domestic abuse survivors
• UW Police Department – For emergencies, call 911. UWPD provides the services of a traditional police department (emergency response and community outreach) as well as safety education, campus community resource officers, a therapy dog program, lake rescue & safety, video and infrastructure security, investigative services, field services, and more

• The Elizabeth House – A maternity home for pregnant women or those who have just given birth, providing a safe and secure environment where new mothers can become emotionally healthy and self-sufficient
• ARC Community Services, Inc – Organization dedicated to helping and empowering women and improving their welfare, along with that of their children and families
• The Salvation Army of Dane County – Offers an immediate nighttime-only emergency shelter for single women, alongside a 24/7 temporary family shelter that provides meals, laundry facilities, and housing case management.
• YWCA Madison Housing and Shelter Programs – Provides a range of crisis housing solutions, including immediate emergency family shelter, transitional housing for domestic violence survivors, and safe, affordable apartments for single women.
• Urban Triage Housing Services – Focuses on preventing homelessness and stabilizing families through rapid rehousing, transitional units, and direct housing navigation support.
• The Road Home Dane County – Exclusively serves families with children experiencing homelessness to provide rapid rehousing, intensive case management, and stable, supportive housing programs focused on long-term family success.
• The Beacon Daily Resource Center – Serves as a daytime shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, offering essential amenities like showers, laundry, meals, mail services, and direct connections to housing case managers.