WRPS School Social Worker works closely with students and families to reduce barriers to education and ensure that students are ready to learn. These barriers can include (but are not limited to) homelessness, poverty, attendance, and social/emotional/behavioral functioning and are reduced through preventative programs, connection to community resources, and individualized student and family services. If you feel your student or family could benefit from any of these services or to opt your student or family out of school social work services, please contact the School Social Worker.
Resources
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Help Guide for Wood County
- Stuff the Desk
- Provides backpacks filled with school supplies based on needed school supply lists to all families in Wood County who are in financial need.
- Register online after May 1st
- Caring Closet
- Throughout the year, if school supplies are needed, please let your school social worker or school counselor know.
Clothing & Hygiene supplies
- Caring closet
- Clothing (including new socks and underwear) for students in need. Sizes 4T through adult sizes
- Personal hygiene items and household supplies based on family size and availability.
- Laundry assistance
- Cleansing Waters Program
- Volunteer run laundry assistance program sponsored by Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church. Volunteers meet families at the laundromat and provide quarters for machine operations and laundry supplies.
- FOCUS Food Pantry
- Receive a 7-day food supply based on family size - once every 30 days. Limited hygiene products are also available.
- FOCUS Backpacks
- FOCUS Family Backpacks (formerly Rapids Family Backpacks) is a free weekend food program for school-aged children and their families.
- FOCUS Neighborhood Meals
- A community meal program for those in need of a free meal and/or the companionship of others while sharing a meal. Meals are served every Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00 PM in the FOCUS building, 2321 W Grand Ave, Wisconsin Rapids.
- Ruby’s Pantry
- Once every 3rd Saturday per month mobile food distribution hosted by Immanuel Lutheran Church. Ask your school social worker for vouchers.
- Costs: $25 per share to offset costs
- Location: Pitsch Early Learning Center- 501 17th Street
- Time: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
- North Central Community Action Program (NCCAP)
- Emergency Housing Assistance Funding (EHAF) - Homeless Prevention
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
- Emergency Furnace Repair & Replacement Program
- Mary Place
- Transitional Housing Services
- Necessities
- Case management
- Mentoring/Life Coaching
- Job Service Referral
- Financial Guidance
- Community Referrals
- Hannah Center
- Urgent Housing Program
- Individual Goal Based Program
- Hannah’s Caring Closet
- CW Solutions- WHSS Program
- WHSS provides services and transition support to assist individuals to locate safe and affordable housing.
- Housing consultations and support plans
- Financial assistance to move from temporary living spaces into permanent housing. This may include: security deposits, utility connection fees and arrears, or household furnishings primarily focused on children.
- Resource Line: 715-218-2887
- Salvation Army- Stevens Point Hope Center
- Emergency Shelter
- Individual Goal Based Program
- Basic Needs Programs
- Salvation Army- Wausau Transitional Shelter
- Emergency Shelter
- Individual Goal Based Program
- Basic Needs Programs
- Forward Service Corporation- Emergency Assistance
- Emergency assistance may be available to families experiencing financial crises beyond the family’s control such as homelessness, impending homelessness, energy crisis, fire, flood, or natural disaster.
- Apply online
- Phone number: 715-422-5000
- St. Lawrence Community Services- Catholic Charities
- Beyond Shelter for families experiencing homelessness
- Financial literacy counseling
- Housing counseling
- Household Assistance
- Wood County Energy Assistance
- Heating Assistance (October 1 – May 15)
- Electric Assistance (October 1 – May 15)
- Crisis Assistance – no heat or disconnect notice
- Proactive Services – information on reducing fuel costs
- Furnace Assistance
- Apply Online
- Call the local office immediately if you are experiencing a NO HEAT situation. If you are experiencing an after-hours emergency, call 715-421-2345 and follow the directions on the message.
- Love Inc (Love in the Name of Christ)
- Needs analysis
- Referrals to local resources
- Service coordination
Phone/Internet assistance
- Lifeline Program
- Discounted lane line, cellphone, and internet services to eligible households
- WRPS Furniture closest
- Donated furniture is available for families in need. Beds of all sizes, couches, lamps, drawers, blankets, and other household items.
- Contact your school’s social worker or counselor.
- Ashley Furniture - Hope to Dream
- Free twin mattress, bed frame, bedding, and pillows (about a $399 value) to children in need.
Families in Transition Program/McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
- Who is eligible
- Children & youth living in:
- Emergency or transitional shelters
- Motels, hotels, campgrounds, or abandoned hospitals
- A car, park, public place, bus station, abandoned building, or any other unsheltered situation.
- A relative's or friend’s home
- runaway, unaccompanied, or abandoned youth
- Every student experiencing homelessness has the right to...
- Attend school regularly despite frequent moves
- Be enrolled in school without records from a previous school
- Remain in the school the child has been attending, regardless of housing circumstances
- Participate in school programs and extracurricular activities
- Obtain basic items such as food, clothing, transportation, and school supplies necessary to learn and be successful in school
- If you are experiencing homelessness...
- Update your child’s school about any new changes in address
- Inform your child's teacher, principal, social worker, or school counselor if you wish for your child to remain in their home school
- Keep a copy of your child’s birth certificate, school records, health/immunization records, if possible
- Contact a WPRS social worker, school counselor, or Families in Transition (FIT) coordinator, Tessa Gruszynski, 715-323-9271 with any questions
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