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FamilyHelper

Help for your family, without the runaround.

Assistance programs are split across agencies that do not talk to each other, and the rules for children are frequently not the rules for parents. FamilyHelper explains what exists, who runs it, and what to ask for — in plain language, free, with no account.

Start with what you needBrowse all topics

FamilyHelper is a private educational resource. We are not a government agency and do not process applications or determine eligibility.

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What is happening right now?

Parents arrive describing a situation, not a program name. Pick the closest one — each leads to what applies, in the order worth doing it.

  1. 01We need groceries this weekWhat moves fastest, and which programs your kids can access separately from the household.
  2. 02My child needs a doctorWhy children are often covered when parents are not, and how to apply on any day of the year.
  3. 03We might lose our homeEmergency rental help, legal aid, and the school protections that follow your child through a move.
  4. 04I cannot afford child careAssistance programs, free preschool options, and the provider flexibility most families never hear about.

Topics

Six things families ask about most

Each topic covers the programs involved, which agency runs each one, what the application asks for, and — separately — what works differently for children.

All topics
Groceries are hard to cover01Food for your familySNAP, WIC, school meals, and summer food programs — including the ones your children can access even when the household is over an income line.2 guidesSomeone needs to see a doctor02Health coverage for kidsMedicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace plans. Children are covered at household incomes well above where adult eligibility ends, which surprises most families.2 guidesWe are behind on rent03Housing and rentEmergency rental help, vouchers and waitlists, and the school-stability protections that apply to children when housing becomes unstable.2 guidesA shutoff notice arrived04Utilities and phoneEnergy assistance, the crisis track most people never hear about, shutoff protections for households with young children, and low-cost phone service.1 guideI need care so I can work05Child care and schoolChild care assistance, Head Start, pre-K, and the school-based services — including special education — that are free and often unmentioned.3 guidesMoney is not stretching06Income and tax creditsTax credits families routinely leave unclaimed, cash assistance, child support services, and what happens to household income when work changes.2 guides

Tools

Three things you can sort out right now

All three run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere, stored, or seen by us.

01

Need finder

Tell us what is happening this month and we will point you at the parts of the library that apply — starting with whatever moves fastest.

Open02

Household counter

Programs count households differently, and it changes the income limit. Work out who counts, for which program.

Open03

Document checklist

Pick the programs you are looking into and get one combined, printable list of the paperwork they ask for.

Open

Guides

Latest from the library

All 12 guides
Health coverage for kids

Why your kids may be covered when you are not

Children's health coverage uses a higher income threshold than adult coverage. Families discover this by accident, usually years late.

7 min read

Housing and rent

School rights when your housing is unstable

Federal law lets your child stay at the same school after a move, enroll without the usual documents, and get transportation. Most families are never told.

6 min read

Optional: get a text when application windows open or a deadline is coming.

Get text updates