In the year since we published “The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice in Wisconsin: What Does It Tell Us About the Future?,” a variety of articles and reports have been released affirming the findings and recommendations presented in that 2021 report. The publications frame the pandemic as a way to examine factors related to racial disparities,3 strategies to reduce youth incarceration, 4 opportunities to transform youth justice, 5 and recommendations for system partners to convert lessons learned into formal policy and practice.6 They also highlight the negative impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on youth and families who are involved in the justice system. These writings present a sense of readiness that needs to be operationalized in order to create better outcomes for youth in the future.
Health Care: Expanding Access to Health Care and Funding to Reduce Racial Disparities
Governor Evers’ proposed budget takes steps to expand access to care, prioritizes maternal and infant health, boosts funding for health care providers, and expands the scope of services that Medicaid will pay for.
