Looking at the budget through the lens of how it affects children and families we see much more harm than good. We see many missed opportunities to address the pressing needs of those hardest hit by the recession, and choices made by the Governor and Legislature that mainly benefit the wealthy few and harm Wisconsin’s most precious resource, our children and families. Below is a summary of the major components of the budget that impact children and families.
Explained: End Juvenile Life Without Parole in Wisconsin
Wisconsin relies far too much on incarceration and blames children for system-wide failures. Instead of incarceration, a better investment for Wisconsin’s youth is in basic needs such as health, housing, and employment. Wisconsin should reimagine a community-based continuum of care grounded in youth voice, emerging adult research, and cross-system collaboration.