Testimony: Opposing Barriers to Health Care

Main Takeaways Kids Forward submitted the below testimony opposing Assembly Bill 163. This bill would make it harder for people to stay on Medicaid by adding extra paperwork and hoops to jump through. This bill would especially hurt children, parents, and people with disabilities, and worsen racial gaps in health care access. The Bill...

read more

State Budget: Mental Health

Main Takeaways Everyone in Wisconsin, regardless of their county, age, or profession deserves to live in a community that supports their wellbeing. This means access to quality, affordable mental health and substance use disorder services. Governor Evers’ proposed budget leverages both federal Medicaid dollars and state revenue to...

read more

State Budget: Worker Power

Main Takeaways Behind every workforce are individuals and caregivers working all hours to build thriving families, communities and businesses. The governor's biennial state budget is an opportunity to demand better for working families. Raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour, strengthening wage theft laws, addressing worker...

read more

State Budget: Early Care & Education

Main Takeaways Child care is unaffordable and unavailable for too many working families. Child care staff are severely underpaid and this critical industry is on the verge of collapse unless there is continued economic support. The Governor's budget takes several steps to address this crisis in Wisconsin by: funding the successful Child...

read more

State Budget: Immigration

Main Takeaways Wisconsin is home to nearly 300,000 immigrants, and they are vital contributors to the economic and social fabric of our communities. Despite their significant contributions, immigrants face barriers in their daily lives. The Governor’s 2025-27 State Budget includes several recommendations that would make it easier for...

read more

The Room Where it Happens: Attend a State Budget Hearing

In February, Governor Evers proposed his state budget. Read our reaction here and some of our analysis here (more to come soon!).  The Governor’s proposals now go to the Joint Committee on Finance (often called the Joint Finance Committee or JFC). This powerful committee is made up of both state Senators and Representatives....

read more

State Budget: Youth Justice

Tough-on-Crime Narratives Uphold Wasteful Spending and a Developmentally Inappropriate Juvenile Justice System Main Takeaways Wisconsin relies far too much on incarceration and blames children for system-wide disinvestment in basic needs. Protecting our children means relying less on youth incarceration, addressing the root causes of...

read more

State Budget: Health Care

Governor’s Proposed Budget Expands Access to Health Care and Helps Reduce Racial Disparities Main Takeaways No matter where we live or what we look like, we all deserve to live safe and healthy lives. We all need access to quality, affordable health care that supports our wellness. Building on the solid foundation federal Medicaid...

read more

Fact Sheet: Every Healthy Baby Starts with Healthy Parents

The below fact sheet was developed by Kids Forward with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Download as PDF Providing postpartum Medicaid coverage for 12 months will help ensure both parents and babies in Wisconsin thrive together. Medicaid in Wisconsin helps cover services including: • Doctor and clinic...

read more

WEBINAR: A State Budget that Works for Every Kid

Rebuild. Reclaim. Reimagine Wisconsin A State Budget that Works for Every Kid Wednesday, April 212-1:30pm CST In February, Governor Evers named 2025 the "Year of the Kid" while introducing his proposed budget. We're thrilled to hear it!   The state budget is how we help ensure that every family — regardless of zip code,...

read more

Join us to build a Wisconsin where
every child and family thrives.

Sign up for Emails

Your address helps us identify your legislators and the most relevant messages to send you.