The need in Wisconsin
Across the United States, the overwhelming effects of poverty are creating a hidden crisis among children and families.
When families lack basic resources and face social isolation, children suffer academically and developmentally while experiencing higher rates of depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems.
Families struggling to meet basic needs for a wide variety of reasons are at greater risk of having their children placed in out-of-home care, such as foster care, kinship care with family members, or residential care. This experience of family separation furthers the negative outcomes for children, placing them at significantly higher risk for mental health challenges, academic failure, homelessness, incarceration, and sex trafficking.
Children do best in the care of a safe, secure, and loving family. Yet, many families don’t receive the physical and social support necessary to help them thrive.
DID YOU KNOW…
1 in 3 children in Wisconsin live in a home that struggles to support basic needs.
More than 5,900 children in Wisconsin are currently in out-of-home care (as of January 2025).
Wisconsin ranks 31st nationally in social support and engagement, meaning many Wisconsin families lack meaningful community connections that can make all the difference in times of need.
Family Connect of Wisconsin was founded with a clear vision: to strengthen families by connecting and mobilizing communities to meet the needs of children and families. By connecting communities to simply and effectively meet critical needs for local families, we can strengthen families and decrease the number of children in out-of-home care.
When we work together, every child can be safe, secure, and loved.