2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book ranks Wisconsin #12th nationally and calls for action to ensure an accurate census count FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2018 CONTACT: Wenona Wolf, Communication and Development Manager wwolf@kidsforward.net | 608.284.0580 x 304 MADISON, WI – The health and well-being of Wisconsin’s children is in jeopardy due...
Kids Forward and Other Advocates Demand End to Family Separation and “Zero-Tolerance” Policy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 20, 2018 CONTACT: Wenona Wolf, wwolf@kidsforward.net, 608-807-7772 MADISON, WI – Today, Kids Forward joined state lawmakers, immigration specialists, health care providers, and members of the religious community to condemn President Trump’s policy of separating immigrant children from their families. The...
Healthier Food, Better Learning, and Stronger Farms
Two years ago, we announced the creation of new program at Kids Forward: the Farm to Early Care and Education project. With funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and through partnerships with FairShare CSA Coalition, the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, and other groups, we embarked on the mission to bring the farm to table movement to child care programs across the state.
Separating Families: Child Abuse, Trauma, and the Lack of Basic Humanity
When I was asked yesterday how I wanted to spend my Father’s Day, I realized that as a parent I needed to spend some of that day speaking out about the child abuse being perpetrated by our nation’s leaders by separating children from their parents at our southern border.
ACA Opponents Attack and Embrace the Marketplace and Consumer Protections
Many portions of the Affordable Care Act are very popular, and the law has survived multiple repeal efforts by Congress and President Trump. Despite this, the ACA is still very vulnerable to sabotage. The Trump administration has actively engaged in that sabotage, as have many other Republicans at the state and federal level. However,...
Lives Cut Too Short: Kids Killed by Guns and Our Failure to Protect Them
PDF of this report. Written by Tamarine Cornelius with contributions from Michelle Robinson and other staff members from Kids Forward. In order for every child in Wisconsin to thrive, we must protect them from things that will harm them and cut their lives short. However, our state and our country lack the political will needed to make...
Corrections and the Justice System: 2017-2018 Legislative Summary
Wisconsin state lawmakers have wrapped up the 2017-18 legislative session after making major changes to the state’s juvenile justice system and passing other bills that affect corrections and criminal justice.
Proposed Farm Bill Will Leave Millions of Kids and Families Hungry
Congress is expected to vote sometime this month on a bill that will leave millions of children and families hungry. The Farm Bill (H.R. 2), will cause an estimated 2 million Americans to lose food stamp benefits and threaten the health and well-being of Wisconsin’s children, families, and communities. Coming on the heels of tax legislation that provides a massive windfall for wealthy individuals and large corporations, this change would take resources away from working families and make it harder for parents to put food on the table for their children.
2017-2018 Legislative Summaries
Wisconsin state lawmakers wrapped up the 2017-2018 legislative session in March. During the session they passed several bills affecting K-12 education, health care, taxes, and public assistance. To learn more about specific bills, please read our legislative summaries: K-12 Education: Legislative Summary Health care: Legislative Summary...
Public Assistance: 2017-2018 Legislative Summary
Advocates were surprised this year when a sweeping package of changes to public assistance was introduced late in the legislative session and was quickly approved by the legislature. Within just a few weeks of when they were introduced, the legislature approved nine of the ten special session bills proposed by Governor Walker.
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