Wisconsin Early Childhood Association

A young boy hugs a teacher while another child plays with magnetic letters in a classroom.

COVID-19 Impact

Milwaukee children, especially children of color and children from low-income and impoverished communities, are safe, cared for, and supported academically, socially, and developmentally during and beyond this public health crisis. When more Milwaukee parents begin going back to work, they have access to child care.

Emergency Fund

The Home Grown Child Care Emergency Fund was complemented by funding from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation in the amount of $250,000. Collectively, the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association awarded $350,000 to 140 licensed child care providers in the lowest income neighborhoods of Milwaukee. Specifically, grant awards in the amount of $2,500 were provided to 90 home-based providers and 50 group centers within the five target zip codes serving the highest concentrations of Black and Latinx children.

Home Grown is a national collaborative of funders committed to improving the quality of and access to home-based child care with a mission to increase access to and the quality of home-based child care. 

August 27, 2025
Ahead of FFN Appreciation Week 2025, a member of the Home Grown staff shares her personal experience with family, friend and neighbor providers and why she's passionate about supporting them.
July 25, 2025
Severe climate and weather disasters in the U.S. have become more frequent. For home-based child care providers, these disasters not only affect the health and well-being of those impacted, but they also disrupt the livelihoods of HBCC providers and caregivers whose businesses are run from their homes.
July 23, 2025
When the devastating LA fires displaced families and child care providers, Home Grown and local partners moved quickly to provide emergency cash aid.