Ensure Health
No matter where we live or what we look like, we all deserve to live safe and healthy lives. However, over decades, Wisconsin lawmakers have chosen the wealthy few over our communities. This has resulted in unprecedented disparities in education, income, housing and more—the social determinants of our communities’ health. And, some lawmakers have chosen to play politics instead of providing the health care that our communities desperately need. When we work together and address the root causes of health inequities, we give everyone the opportunity to live happier, healthier lives.
With partners at the Noble Community Health Center’s Children’s Health Day, August 2024, in Wautoma.
Badgercare vs Medicaid
Medicaid provides health insurance for more than one million people in Wisconsin. BadgerCare, one of several Medicaid programs, is health insurance for kids, parents, and adults with low incomes who typically don’t have access to coverage through their job. Medicaid also offers long term care for people with disabilities and older adults who need support to stay independent in their communities.
Learn more about Medicaid vs BadgerCare here.
Advocating for Health Care Coverage for All Wisconsin Residents
Physical and mental health care is a human right and access to care is essential for a just society. No matter someone’s race, how much money they make, or where they were born we all deserve comprehensive, affordable, quality health care. We are working for that future, but we know we have a long way to go.
Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act provides health care for one in four people living in Wisconsin. Through community and partner informed research, data-analysis, advocacy, and education we work to strengthen, protect, and improve Medicaid and access to affordable health coverage and care.
We team up with providers, patients, workers, advocates, and other stakeholders to push for policies such as extending postpartum Medicaid coverage, fully expanding Medicaid, and making it easier for people to get the care they need Medicaid and insurance providers covering care provided by doulas, community health workers, and other trusted sources of care close to communities.
Sharing personal stories that we can bring to the state capital is one of the most powerful ways to join the fight for a just healthcare system.
Open Enrollment Starts Today, Get the Facts and Get Covered!
We at Kids Forward believe that everyone deserves access to high quality, affordable health insurance and health care. We’ve made progress, but still over 300,000 Wisconsinites remain uninsured, and our state still has wide racial disparities in access to affordable...
4 Takeaways from the New Census Data on Health Insurance Coverage
The Census Bureau recently issued a couple of batches of data relating to health insurance status of people across the U.S. in 2018. After reviewing the new numbers, we have distilled portions of the new data that are particularly relevant for making sure all people...
Budget Bill Fails to Include Remedies for Wisconsin’s Stark Racial Disparities
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....
Healthy Food & Active Kids
Nourishing food and safe, inviting physical activity are a basic need for every child in Wisconsin. But, some lawmakers choose to line the pocketbooks of Wisconsin’s wealthy few instead of reinvesting our tax dollars back into our communities. Both Wisconsin’s urban and rural communities are too often in food deserts where healthy food is expensive and hard to access. Many communities and neighborhoods don’t have safe, inviting playgrounds and outdoor spaces. Mental health is suffering.
Kids Forward helps lead two statewide coalitions that work to improve nutrition security and physical activity, as well as opportunities for outdoor learning and play. Learning where our food comes from: gardening and cooking are essential as we “Grow Healthy Kids”.
Together we have developed resources and trainings, provided financial support, and partnered with state agencies and local organizations to get kids outside and eating locally grown food.
Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub
We have partnered with the USDA and Illinois Public Health Institute to launch the Lake Michigan School Food Systems Innovation Hub. We’re funding collaborations with farmers, food suppliers, food service directors, community-based program leaders and more to strengthen the K-12 food supply chain.
Healthy Early
A statewide, cross-sector partnership, Healthy Early is working to create equitable opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity for Wisconsin kids and families. Kids Forward currently serves as a convener for the coalition.
To learn more, contact Daithi Wolfe.
Healthy Early leaders at their first in-person retreat in April 2024.
Improving Language Access in Wisconsin
In 2024, Kids Forward and the Multicultural Coalition launched our Language Access Awareness Campaign. This partnership grew out of a need to address language barriers not only at the direct service level, but also at the systems and policy level. To ensure families can access services and meet their basic needs, communities must work collectively to provide meaningful language access services up front, not just translations by request.
Wisconsin currently does not have a statewide language access plan, although some counties and state agencies have prepared their own. Now is the time for local and state governments to get proactive about creating robust language plans and ensuring that all families, regardless of language, can access the critical resources they need. Contact your legislators and Governor Tony Evers to ask them to support the implementation of a statewide language access plan.
To learn more, contact Amanda Martinez.
With the Multicultural Coalition Inc, in October 2024 we brought together advocates and service providers in the Fox Valley to share challenges and solutions around language access.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Research & Publications
K-12 Education: Setting Every Child Up for Success means Lifting up Wisconsin’s Public Schools
Every child deserves a quality K-12 education that sets them up for opportunities and success, regardless of school district or zip code. However, Wisconsin public schools continue to face many substantial challenges.
Fact Sheet: Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan
Following years of sabotage and hostility directed towards the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Governor Walker and the legislature pivoted to pass a $200 million reinsurance program, which is expected to slightly lower premiums for those relatively few people who earn too...
Eight Years of Progress Under the Affordable Care Act: We Can’t Go Back
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) turns eight tomorrow, Friday, March 23. Despite Republicans’ ongoing efforts to repeal, replace, or sabotage the ACA, the health reform law has some impressive accomplishments. During this challenging year, public sentiment regarding the...
It Happens Here Too: Mass Shootings in Wisconsin
View the Full Map Here As we continue the conversation about gun violence and safety in the wake of the tragedy in Parkland, FL, it is easy to distance ourselves from the problem, despite our shared fear and outrage. We must remember that mass shootings like this are...
After Parkland Massacre, Let’s Listen to Students and Enact Common Sense Gun Laws
It’s well past time for adults to take real action to protect kids from gun violence. If adults don’t act, we shoulder the blame the next time someone uses a weapon of war to kill kids. On February 14, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida, a...
A Bold Attack on Civil Rights
For Wisconsin to prosper, we need to ensure that all Wisconsinites have the tools they need to be successful. Unfortunately, state lawmakers have proposed numerous bills that take us in the opposite direction. One such bill, Senate Bill 634/Assembly Bill 748, will...
Tommorrow’s Vote Could Mean Terrible Things for Children and Families
Last Thursday, the Wisconsin Assembly approved Governor Walker’s package of dangerous changes to safety net programs, moving these harmful bills onto to the Wisconsin Senate and one step closer to becoming state law. These proposals will only make it harder for people...
Share your Story
What would ensuring health in your community look like?
Join our mailing list below to receive powerful analysis and ways to get involved sent straight to your inbox.
Sign up for Emails
Your address helps us identify your legislators and the most relevant messages to send you.