Supporting Wisconsin Families Through Navigation & Referral Services

Thriving Wisconsin is distributing more than $278,000 in Preschool Development Grant (PDG) funding from the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to eight member organizations. These funds support navigation and referral services that help connect families with the resources and assistance they need.

Funded activities include community outreach events, parenting warm lines, referral services, coalition participation, and community convenings. One example is Tree House Child and Family Services in Walworth County, which used funding to publish the Walworth County Child & Family Resource Directory in both English and Spanish, improving access to local resources. View the directory here.

The impact of this funding is already clear. During the first two quarters, Family Resource Centers:



• Attended 67 resource fairs, reaching 21,748 community members
• Made 693 referrals to services and supports
• Participated in 225 coalition meetings and community convenings

These efforts highlight the vital role Family Resource Centers play in helping Wisconsin families access resources, build connections, and thrive.

Photo Below: Tree House Child and Family Services Staff handing out printed directories and a local event.

Understanding Federal Funding: New NFSN Guides for FRCs

The National Family Support Network (NFSN) recently released four Federal Funding Guides to help Family Resource Centers (FRCs) better navigate and understand key federal funding streams:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF)
• Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)
• Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)

The guides are valuable resources for organizations seeking to strengthen their understanding of federal funding opportunities and support sustainability planning for Family Resource Centers.

These guides are available on the NFSN website here.

Thriving Wisconsin Board Member Highlights Impact of Child Care Counts Ending

Renee Ernsting, Director of Child Care Partnership and a current Thriving Wisconsin Board member, was recently featured in an article discussing the significant impact of the end of the Child Care Counts program.

The article highlights concerns from child care providers across Wisconsin about the loss of this critical funding source and the challenges it creates for sustaining quality care, retaining staff, and keeping programs affordable for families. As communities continue to navigate these changes, Thriving Wisconsin remains committed to advocating for solutions that support children, families, and the child care workforce.

Read the full article here.

Supporting Healthy Media Habits in a Changing School Environment

University of Wisconsin Extension, would like to share information about an upcoming webinar series on school phone bans that they will be hosting in the coming weeks. The series explores the implementation of Wisconsin's school phone ban law (WI Act 42) and its impact on students, families, and schools.

The family-focused session is designed to help parents and caregivers understand current research on youth media use, support healthy media habits at home, and navigate changes to school phone policies. Families will receive practical, research-based strategies and resources to support their children's success both in and out of the classroom.

Learn more and register here.

New Research: Donors Encourage Nonprofits to Support Free and Fair Elections

A new guide from Nonprofit VOTE and MRSS highlights the important role nonpartisan nonprofits can play in promoting voter participation and confidence in the electoral process.

As trusted community organizations, nonprofits are uniquely positioned to share accurate voting information, encourage civic engagement, and help reduce barriers to participation.

The guide emphasizes that supporting free and fair elections is a nonpartisan act of civic stewardship. Research cited by the authors shows that donors and supporters across the political spectrum expect nonprofits to help voters stay informed and to advocate for election integrity when it is at risk. The resource provides practical steps nonprofits can take to support voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Find the Guide here.

MRSS website here.

Wisdom Circle Brings Voices Together to Shape Family Policy

In July, the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health hosted a two-day Wisdom Circle in La Crosse, bringing together parents, caregivers, advocates, and professionals from across Wisconsin to discuss policies that better support babies, young children, and families.

Thriving Wisconsin participated in the event, joining statewide partners in listening to family experiences, identifying gaps in current systems, and exploring opportunities to strengthen supports for children and families. Through collaborative discussions and storytelling, participants highlighted shared priorities and strategies to advance policies that promote family well-being and create lasting positive outcomes for Wisconsin communities.

The Wisdom Circle reinforced the importance of centering family voices in policy development and provided valuable insights that will help inform future advocacy and systems-change efforts across the state.

Thriving Wisconsin Advocates for Child Care at Gubernatorial Candidate Forum

Thriving Wisconsin Executive Director, Heidi Luft, represented the organization at Wisconsin's first-ever gubernatorial candidate forum dedicated exclusively to child care, helping elevate the voices of children, families, providers, and communities across the state.

The forum provided an important opportunity to advance key policy priorities, including child care affordability, workforce compensation and supports, access to care, Head Start funding, and investments in infant and toddler care. Through participation in the event, Thriving Wisconsin joined advocates and stakeholders in emphasizing the critical role child care plays in supporting family stability, strengthening Wisconsin's workforce, and promoting long-term economic growth.

As conversations around the future of child care continue, Thriving Wisconsin remains committed to advocating for policies and investments that ensure all Wisconsin families have access to affordable, high-quality care.

Nature-Based Early Childhood Education Credential

Registration is now open for the Nature-Based Early Childhood Education Credential through Western Technical College. This mostly online program (90%) allows early childhood professionals across Wisconsin to deepen their knowledge of nature-based learning and incorporate outdoor, hands-on experiences into their teaching practices.

The credential includes four 3-credit courses and is supported by the Wisconsin Registry. Registration for Fall 2026 is now open.

For more information, contact Stef Bugasch here or to register for this opportunity, visit here.

Child Care Partnership: Community Conversations on Child Care Solutions

Child Care Partnership (CCP) recently collaborated with WECA and local partners to advance conversations around child care workforce challenges, affordability, quality, and long-term sustainability. Through regional and local discussions involving legislators, business leaders, providers, and community organizations, CCP used local data to highlight workforce shortages, provider capacity needs, and the critical role of Child Care Resource & Referral services.

These efforts strengthened partnerships across sectors and elevated key priorities, including workforce recruitment and retention, affordability, mentoring, and business engagement in child care solutions. CCP also helped raise public awareness of local child care challenges through media outreach following the events.

By continuing to leverage community partnerships and data-driven strategies, CCP remains committed to advancing collaborative solutions that strengthen Wisconsin's early childhood system.

Community Outreach Strengthens Connections Across the Community

4C For Children expanded its community outreach efforts, engaging more than 900 families, child care providers, workforce partners, and community members through events such as the WOYC Kickoff Celebration, Provider Appreciation Day, the Kenosha Success Fair, and Northcott Neighborhood House's Juneteenth Celebration.

These events helped strengthen partnerships with organizations including Milwaukee Succeeds, Wisconsin Partnership, the Southeastern Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, and United Way of Kenosha County, while increasing awareness of child care resources and support services. Providers shared positive feedback, with one attendee noting that Provider Appreciation Day “really shows who cares about the early childhood education community.”

4C For Children remains committed to building strong community partnerships and expanding outreach efforts that connect families and providers with the resources they need to thrive.