Community Resources
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services
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UW Adolescent Alcohol/Drug Assessment Intervention Program: comprehensive alcohol and drug evaluation program providing screening, assessments, intervention and referral services for youth and their families.
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Recovery Dane: provides information & referrals to help guide you in the direction of services available concerning mental health and/or substance use concerns.
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Live hotline: 608-237-1661, Monday - Friday 9a.m.-3p.m
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Email: info@soarcms.org
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- Safe Communities Peer Support Services
Childcare Resources
- WI Shares Child Care Subsidy: Provides sliding-scale funding to pay for childcare for caregivers who are working, in school, or participating in other approved activities. Funds can be used for most licensed childcare providers (including YMCA programs)
- To apply for WI Shares, use the ACCESS WI Portal to apply for benefits.
- Community Coordinated Child Care (4Cs): Provides childcare search tools and referral services
- Head Start: Childcare services and family programming for children aged 3-5 who’s parents are working or searching for employment.
Food Resources
- Foodshare (also known as Quest benefits or Food Stamps): Provides families with a debit card with funds to purchase food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some limited convenience stores
- To apply for FoodShare, use the ACCESS WI Portal to apply for benefits.
- Free/Reduced Meals Program: provides free or reduced price lunch and breakfast to students.
- Food Pantries and Community Meals: United Way of Dane County lists the most up-to-date food pantry information or call 2-1-1 to speak to a resource specialist.
- Badger Prairie Needs Network
Healthcare Resources
- Badgercare/Badgercare Plus: provides access to affordable or free healthcare for kids and families.
- To apply for Badgercare Plus, use the ACCESS WI Portal to apply for benefits.
- Access Community Health Centers: provides low-cost medical care to adults and children
- St Vincent De Paul Charitable Pharmacy: helps uninsured adults access prescription medications
- Access Dental Care: provides low-cost dental care to adults and children
Housing, Homeless, and Doubled-Up Families Resources
Betsy Scholz, VASD Families in Transition Social Worker 608-400-1129
- If you are staying temporarily with someone else because you lost your housing, or staying in a motel/hotel, campground, shelter, or in an outside or inadequate place, you and your children have special rights at school.
Those rights include:
· Staying in the same school even if you move, and receiving transportation to that school, as long as it is in the student’s best interest
· Enrolling in school immediately without the documents schools usually require
· Receiving free school meals
· Getting help with school supplies and other needs
· Extra support for youth who are on their own
· Help connecting young children with early childhood services
- Tenant Resource Center
- Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County
- Briarpatch Youth Shelter & Services
Immigration
- Centro Hispano Know Your Rights / Conozca sus Derechos
- Immigrant Justice Clinic
- Immigration Law Help
- Community Immigration Law Center
LGBTQIA+ Crisis Resources
- Trevor Project 24/7/365 Support for LGBTQIA+ youth. If you are thinking about suicide and in need of immediate support, please call or TrevorChat to connect with a counselor
- Trevor Lifeline 1-866-488-7386: Crisis intervention & Suicide prevention phone service 24/7/365
- Trevor Text: Text START to 678678. Confidential text messaging with a Trevor counselor.
- Trevor Support Center: Find answers to frequently asked questions, and explore resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity and more
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Briarpatch: Teens Like Us group for support, education, and a safe space for queer youth and allies ages 13-18
Mental Health Resources
- Accessing Dane County Mental Health Providers
- Journey Mental Health 24 Hr Crisis Line: Call 608-280-2600.
- Briarpatch Youth Shelter & Services: Provides free counseling, crisis intervention, and a youth shelter for kids aged 12-17
- 24-hour Helpline and to schedule an appointment: 608-251-1126
- Text helpline: 608-285-2776 (texts checked M-F 9am-9pm)
- Suicide Prevention 24 hour Lifeline:
Call 988 - Parent stressline: Free and confidential, all languages available—24/7
- Call: 1-800-632-8188
- Text line: text HOME to 741741
- Behavioral Health Resource Center: Helps connect you to resources for mental health and/or substance use
Transportation
- Michael LaCount - VASD Operations Manager 608-845-4370
Other Helpful Numbers and Resources:
- Joining Forces for Families: JFF is a community social work agency that provides a variety of services to families including help finding housing, help signing up for and accessing county programs like Foodshare, assisting families in accessing food and clothing resources, and more.
Joining Forces for Families Verona - Lisa Hemauer 608-575-1064
Joining Forces for Families (spanish speaking) - Ryan Estrella 608-273-6342
- United Way Dane County: United Way’s resource guide provides referrals for many family needs. Call 2-1-1 to speak to a referral specialist, or use the online resource guide
- Centro Hispano
- Community Action Coalition: Provides support to families in accessing food, clothing, housing, and life skills training.
- Rape Crisis Center
- 24/7 Help Line 608-251-7273
- Línea de Ayuda 608-258-2567
- Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS)
- Help Line: 608-251-4445 or 800-747-4045; If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)