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Find events, activities by age, and much more!
Adult Literacy
Are you a parent or guardian looking to improve your reading or general literacy skills? Don’t worry, there’s support available.
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Adults face obstacles when they lack basic knowledge, education credentials, and English language skills. Access to education and training breaks down barriers and opens opportunities to provide for themselves and their families.
Literacy Services of Wisconsin partners with motivated adults to provide access to quality basic education and skills training so they can improve their lives, enrich their families, and strengthen our community.
Baby Supplies
Find free or low-cost supplies in your area.
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Access free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and baby supplies including diapers.
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Milwaukee Public Library
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CareNet - Pregnancy Center of Milwaukee - Access free maternity and baby clothes
ECares Agency Inc.- Access gently used clothing for women and children.
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City of Milwaukee Cribs for Kids Program - Learn about safe sleep with babies and get a low-cost or free crib
Cribs for Kids - Search your area to find local cribs and sleep information
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Milwaukee Diaper Mission - Access free diapers and period supplies
CareNet - Pregnancy Center of Milwaukee - Access free prenatal healthcare and supplies for newborns
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Women, Infants and Childcare (WIC) Program - Join a nutrition program for children younger than five and pregnant, post-partum, and nursing women
Books to buy or rent
Looking to add to your child’s book collection? Check out these awesome places to buy or rent books!
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Boswell Book Company is a general-interest bookstore on the East Side of Milwaukee, just south of UWM.
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MPL is an anchor institution that helps build healthy families and vibrant neighborhoods – the foundation of a strong Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees and library staff chose this mission statement to reflect the library's devotion to its neighborhoods and the people of Milwaukee. Library staff serve their patrons where they live - in the heart of their neighborhood. Staff learn their reading habits and preferences, they are aware of assignments and curricula in neighborhood schools, they become familiar with databases and online resources that are needed most by patrons for job searches, college applications, lifelong learning, and adult caregiving. From story times to retirement planning, the library is committed to its neighborhood patrons in every aspect of life.
If you haven't visited in a while, we are planning special events at our Good Hope, Mitchell Street, and Washington Park branches featuring food, entertainment, and the opportunity to see everything the library has to offer. Get your library card up-to-date - or register for a new one!
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Next Door serves nearly 1,400 children a year from birth to five years old through two center-based sites, a home visitation program and 11 partnership sites in Milwaukee County.
We focus on getting children ready for school with academic and social-emotional learning, behavioral, disability and mental health support services and medical and dental care – all at no cost to our families.
Order books or visit one of our Little Free Libraries for free books for you, your family and your classroom – to take home forever!
Order Books for your next event, program or office waiting room. To discuss setting up a special order, contact books@NextDoorMKE.org.
Our Community Library is open to the public every Thursday afternoon from 2:00-5:45 pm at our 29th St. campus (2545 N. 29th St). All community members are welcome to 2 FREE BOOKS per month for themselves and each family member in their home. Teachers may choose 2 FREE BOOKS per month for each student in their classroom.
Our Mobile Library visits our Child Care Partnership sites and is out-and-about in the community distributing 2 FREE BOOKS to all who visit.
Our Little Free Libraries are available for all to enjoy. They are currently located at our 29th St. campus (2545 N 29th St, inside the main gate, during regular business hours) and our Capitol Dr. campus (near the corner of 53rd and Capitol Dr, open 24 hours).
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Rooted MKE offers a niche, boutique bookstore with titles appropriate for the youngest of readers, to young adults. We also offer one-on-one and small group private academic support and group homework support sessions as well as exploration activities to connect youth to local artists and makers. We seek to nurture youth through books, storytelling and literacy related services, as a full circle experience.
Rooted MKE seeks to provide BIPOC youth a reflection of themselves through our curated selection of titles. We aspire to be a community space where families gather, appreciate shared experiences centered around literacy, and nurture Milwaukee’s youth in a safe, inclusive space.
Breastfeeding
Find information and resources on breastfeeding.
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Access information and support for breastfeeding your baby
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Find multilingual online resources, newsletters and support groups for breastfeeding
Childcare
Discover local childcare and education services in your community.
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Search for local childcare providers
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Search for center-based care, family childcare, and summer camps
Child Growth & Development
Discover what to expect as your child grows, plus how to help them learn.
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Find developmental milestones for babies by ages and stages
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Get health assessments, development screenings, home safety assessments and more parenting tools
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Start here if you have concerns about your infant’s or toddler’s development
Emergency
When your family needs emergency support, know there’s help available.
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If you or your family is facing a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.
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24-hour domestic violence hotline
Call: (414) 933-2722
Text: (414) 877-8100Sojourner has been designated the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline for the City of Milwaukee and outlying communities since 1986.
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A telephone and mobile crisis service for children and adolescents (to age 18). Will answer questions and concerns about your child by phone or by meeting with you and your child in the community or at home. (414) 257-7621
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Free Smoke Detector & Installation (414-286-8980)
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The City of Milwaukee has launched its MKE Alert emergency notification system! Receive alerts for missing persons, special events/road closures, extreme weather, public health warnings, and more.
Learn more and sign up at http://milwaukee.gov/MKEalert or text #MKEALERT to 24639.
Family Activities
Find fun, kid-friendly activities that are free or low-cost.
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Enter for $2 per person through the Museums for All program
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If you participate in WIC, Foodshare, BadgerCare, or Medicaid, get a $20 annual family membership
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Enjoy family free days for Milwaukee residents
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Find free events at your local library branch or join virtual storytime from home
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Visit permanent exhibits for free on the first Thursday of every month
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Find the city’s best kid-friendly businesses, activities and events.
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Find all the free and reduced-admission rates for museums around Milwaukee and surrounding communities
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Find local kid-friendly activities
Financial Resources
Need financial resources? Find them here.
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The City of Milwaukee, in partnership with the national Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund), announced the grand opening of Milwaukee’s Financial Empowerment Center (FEC), offering professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a free public service to local residents. At the Milwaukee FEC, professionally trained FEC counselors help individuals and families with low and moderate incomes manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products. At the core of the FEC model is the integration of counseling into other social services, such as housing and foreclosure prevention, workforce development, prisoner reentry, benefits access, domestic violence services, and more.
GED & Tutoring
Searching for GED or tutoring services for adults and children? Find local resources below.
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At Joyce's House Education Center, we believe that everyone has the potential to learn and grow, regardless of their background or experience. We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment where all students can thrive and achieve their goals.
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Literacy allows us to share, learn and travel the world through experiences shared between the pages of a book. Children who are confident in their skills, show up as their best selves. We recognize this and are here to support. Rooted MKE offers academic coaching & support in all academic subjects. Our literacy and academic team has a combined total of over 30 years as educators teaching at both the K-12 and collegiate level.
The Rooted MKE process includes assessing students current academic performance while doing a deep dive to gauge their interests, motivations and goals. This service is provided through our comprehensive, hour long consultation sessions.
We then create a roadmap that outlines goals, skills we will build upon and objectives for the academic semester. These plans are drafted with the input and support of parents to create a shared, mutually understood plan of action. Students are then matched with an academic coach and on a 2, 3, or 4 day a week basis, to progress towards their goals and objectives.
Health and Dental Care
Find healthcare providers in your community.
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Find a provider that meets your family’s needs
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A site to learn about recalls on products and food.
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Access information, services and support for adults considering having children, for pregnant women and for newborns
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Find low-cost and free services for families
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Find healthcare for children and families
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Access a wide range of services available to children and families
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Find healthcare and life services for children and adults
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Sign up for BadgerCare, ACA insurance plans, and other health resources
Mental Health Support /Self-Care/Pregnancy & Infant Loss
You’re not alone! If you or a loved one are struggling, find help here.
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Get support for navigating pregnancy and infant loss
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Get assistance for safely escaping domestic violence.
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The mission of the Milwaujee Center For Children & Youth is to end the suffering of abused children in Milwaukee County through comprehensive advocacy, education, and supportive services that heal trauma, build resilience, and nurture the ability to thrive.
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Find mental-health resources for young children and families
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Access emergency support for behavioral health and crisis situations
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Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) if you or a loved one are in crisis
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Learn how to talk to young children about their emotions and how you can support their mental and behavioral health
Parenting Classes
Learn about local classes and resources to get the support you need.
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CareNet offers pregnancy classes!
When: Class available Tuesday-Thursday from 10-3.
Where: Care Net – 4957 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
What: Register for a pregnancy or parenting class. For every class you attend you get free diapers AND you earn baby bucks to spend in our beautiful baby boutique!
Details: We have classes for ALL moms. Call or text 414-962-2212 for more information.
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Find courses on communicating with your child and managing stress as a parent and sign up for one-on-one life skills coaching.
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Learn how talking to infants and toddlers helps build their brain
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Register for parenting classes and access parent coaches; call their helpline at Call (414) 671-0566 to get free and confidential coaching for parenting issues
Prenatal Care
Get support for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
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Prenatal, birthing and postpartum support for Milwaukee residents at any stage of pregnancy
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Access free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and baby supplies
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Essential Prenatal Care provides short term prenatal care coordination for Medicaid eligible pregnant mothers and women with newborns who reside in Milwaukee County. Women that are interested in how to prevent high risk pregnancy and participate in a program that will induce healthy babies are encouraged to sign up as clients of Essential Prenatal Care. The service offers both pre-natal care (while pregnant) and child-care coordination (new moms). We also offer free baby items such as diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles, car seats, pack 'n plays, clothes and shoes.
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Milwaukee County Healthy Start is open and available to support you remotely and via phone during the current COVID-19 health crisis.
No one can do it alone.
All parents need support to give their baby a healthy start in life
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Pregnancy and parenting support and up to two months after your baby comes home
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We connect, community, health providers and resources for better health outcomes and improved quality of life.
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Find a doula to support you through pregnancy, labor, delivery and adjusting to life at home with your new baby
Respite
In need of respite (temporary relief) care or resources? Find them below.
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Safe Families for Children seeks to bring the church and community together to keep children safe and families together. Safe Families for Children is rooted in faith, fueled by radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion, to build a network of caring and compassionate volunteers to support families facing social isolation. Our goal is to support and strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and reduce the number of children unnecessarily entering the child welfare system.
Safety & Emergency
Find local resources to support the safety of your family.
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Dial 911 if you are having an emergency
Mobile Trauma Response Team (414-257-7621)
Free Smoke Detector & Installation (414-286-8980)
24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline (414-933-2722)
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Dial 988 if you are thinking about committing suicide
24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line (414-257-7222)
Talk to a Peer (UpliftWI) (534-202-5438)
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Dial The Parenting Network hotline to get help dealing with child behaviors and parenting tips (414-671-0566)
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Report Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (414-220-SAFE (7233))
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Visit www.hungertaskforce.org/get-help/ to find free food and meals near you
Dial 211 to be connected to locate services in your area
Visit EvictionFreeMKE.com if you or someone you know is facing an Eviction in Milwaukee
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United Neighborhood Center of Milwaukee 1609 W. North Avenue
City on a Hill 2224 W. Kilbourn Avenue / Every second Saturday of each month
Milwaukee Christian Center Food Pantry 807 S. 14th Street / Mon. thru Thurs. from 1p.m. to 3 p.m.
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee 2819 W. Richardson Place / Mon. thru Fri. from 7:30a.m. to 5p.m.
Neu-Life Community Development 2014 W. North Avenue
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center 5460 N 64th Street / Sun. thru Thurs. from 9a.m. to 6 p.m.
COA Youth and Family Centers 909 E. Garfield Ave. and 2320 W. Burleigh Street
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Find more resources for families and children at MKE4Kids.com or call 414-286-KIDS(5437)
Technology
Find local resources to support the safety of your family.
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We are passionate about promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders. Through our educational programs, workshops, and events, we aim to make STEAM accessible to all, particularly underrepresented groups. Our goal is to cultivate a love for learning and creativity, preparing individuals for the future of work in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
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Circulating Electronic Devices are available for check out at the Milwaukee Public Library. These currently include mobile hotspot portable internet devices and Chromebook computing devices. These units are bundled with the device itself along with a charging cable, power supply, and case.
Work in Child Care
Find local job opportunities within the Child Care Industry.
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The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is currently seeking an Early Childhood Educator Apprentice. Early childhood educators instruct preschool students in activities promoting social, physical, and intellectual growth that follow curricula or lesson plans.
Reimbursements are available for early childhood educator sponsors and apprentices. Contact Apprenticeship@dwd.wisconsin.gov for information.
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YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee is currently hiring for multiple positions related to early childhood development.
Simply click here and select the “Early Childhood Education” category under the “Job Type” filter to see the current listing of available of opportunities.
