Wisconsin’s rank of 13th in the annual KIDS COUNT® Data Book signals troubling trends in child well-being over the past 30 years. Some of the indicators have not merely stalled but have gotten worse, and the high ranking masks significant racial and ethnic disparities within the four domains assessed annually: health, education,...
This is the first blog in a series about some of the legislature’s Missed Opportunities to Support Wisconsin Families stemming from the Joint Finance Committee’s decision to remove public assistance program recommendations from the budget bill. Establishing a close bond with a parent or caretaker is crucial for a baby's future...
Undocumented immigrants come to Wisconsin in search of opportunity, looking for safe communities for themselves and their families. In return, they benefit our communities by bringing cultural and economic vibrancy, entrepreneurship, and an expanded workforce for some of the state’s most critical industries. Wisconsin lawmakers should...
Kids Forward has just released the results of a survey of child care providers in Brown County and surrounding areas. We think this is useful information for policy makers and advocates who want to improve Wisconsin's early care and education system. Many thanks to Family & Childcare Resources of Northeast Wisconsin for conducting...
State tax policies can be a powerful tool for expanding opportunity and enhancing racial and ethnic equity. But right now, Wisconsin’s tax system calls on the richest residents to pay the smallest share of their income in taxes and requires residents with low and moderate incomes to pay more than their fair share. Governor Evers...
Proof of the atrocities on our southern border are increasing daily. In response, the federal government issued a new asylum rule. Starting yesterday, people seeking asylum must first petition for asylum in the closest neighboring country. Should that request be denied, the refugee is then eligible to petition for asylum in the United...
On a wide range of different indicators, Wisconsin has some of the largest racial disparities in the nation. For example, the poverty rate for Black Wisconsin children is 36% -- four times the rate for white children, which is one of the widest gaps among all states. It is time for state policymakers to ensure that all Wisconsinites can...
Since the 2012 Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act, most people consider the ACA, and its many consumer protections, settled law. However, 18 states led by the Republican Attorney General of Texas, have sued again attempting to have the courts invalidate the health law. The plaintiffs claim that since Congress zeroed...
The decision about whether or not Wisconsin should accept federal funding to expand Medicaid, which would cover an additional 80,000 Wisconsinites and save hundreds of millions in state dollars per year, should not be controversial. However, Republican legislators who oppose Medicaid expansion are relying on discredited arguments about...
JFC Budget Slashes Initiatives Important to Rural Areas and Communities of Color Kids Forward is extremely disappointed by the Medicaid budget approved Tuesday by the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) because it costs state taxpayers far more than the Medicaid plan recommended by the governor, yet accomplishes far less. The Republican plan...
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