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.
Sabotage Watch: Proposed Changes to the Affordable Care Act Insurance Marketplace Will Harm Many Wisconsinites
Written by Jon Peacock, Research Director and William Parke-Sutherland, Health Policy Outreach Coordinator PDF of this report During the past year, Congress and the Trump administration have tried multiple times to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Those...
The Affordable Care Act Marketplace is Especially Important in Rural Wisconsin
The subsidized health insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to be important for people across our state, but especially so for those in rural areas.
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...
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.
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Research & Publications
19th Century Abortion Ban Could Go into Effect if Legislature Fails to Act
Kids Forward urges state legislators to act quickly to protect access to basic reproductive health care in our state.
Farm to Table for Early Care and Education Programs
The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) is excited to announce the creation of the Farm to Early Care and Education project, which will bring the farm to table movement to child care programs across the state. The project is funded by a $150,000 grant...
Insuring Already-eligible Kids Is Critical for Improving the Health of WI Children
Wisconsin is no longer the leader it once was in getting children insured. A new WCCF report examines how Wisconsin lost its national prominence in insuring children and how our state could regain its leadership in that important area. Census Bureau figures show that...
Health Care for Kids: How Wisconsin Lost and Could Regain Its National Prominence
PDF Version For most of the last 20 years, Wisconsin has been a national leader in the percentage of children with health insurance. Unfortunately, that leadership has slipped in recent years, and Wisconsin is no longer among the best states when it comes to ensuring...
The Compelling Fiscal Logic for Expanding BadgerCare
Budget Project Analysis Counters the Cost Concerns Raised by Expansion Opponents Suppose you could refinance your mortgage and initially save $100 per month, but the net savings would decline over a few years to $90 per month. Would you jump at that opportunity, or...
An Immense Disparity for Native Americans: 5,100 Days
New Federal Policy Could Help Close the Gap On average, Native Americans in Wisconsin die 14 years sooner than whites! In 2014, the average age at death for Native Americans was just 63 years, compared to 77 years for white Wisconsinites. Think about that. Fourteen...
Closing Gaps in Native American Health
PDF Version Communities of color often face greater health challenges that lead to larger health disparities between them and their white peers. This is especially true for the Native American community. Health indicators for Native Americans in Wisconsin are far...
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