Publications
Race to Equity: 10-Years Later
The 10-Year Report unpacks how race, class, and, in some cases, gender impact Black Dane County residents.
DACA Recipients in Wisconsin
One of the most impactful federal policies we have to support immigrants in Wisconsin is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Health & Nutrition
2022 Kids Count Data Book: Wisconsin’s Children of Color More Likely to Face Mental Health Issues
Anxiety and depression are rising among Wisconsin’s youth, especially children of color.
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.
Bills Scapegoating People on BadgerCare will not Improve the Workforce
Republican state legislators have proposed two bills they claim will strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce, but taking away health care from Wisconsinites struggling to get by will make our state sicker not stronger. These changes...
Immigration
Summary of Governor’s Proposed Budget for Immigrant Issues
Governor Evers has proposed a budget that removes barriers to driver licenses for undocumented immigrants, allows undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition, provides additional resources for English language learner services in K-12 schools, and creates a...
The Work of Undocumented Immigrants Supports the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. So Why Are They Barred from Receiving Benefits?
Undocumented immigrants have played a part in depositing over a hundred million dollars in Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance trust fund over the past decade, yet the federal government excludes them from collecting unemployment benefits paid for from the fund. This...
An Inclusive Approach to Undocumented Immigrants Can Help Wisconsin Prosper
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...
Tax & Budget
Early Care & Education: Supporting Wisconsin Families During Children’s Early Years
Regardless of race, place, or income, every child in Wisconsin deserves a strong start in life. This early foundation plays a critical role in life-long health and wellness. But systemic racism and poverty destabilizes families and communities and creates unhealthy conditions and barriers that harm children in their early development. This process of destabilization not only prevents children from having a strong start but can persist over the course of their lives.
Mental Health: A Behavioral Health System that Better Supports Counties and Schools
Everyone in Wisconsin, regardless of what county they live in, deserves to live in a community that supports their health and wellness, including access to quality, affordable mental health and substance use disorder services. Governor Evers’ proposed budget expands access to behavioral health care, strengthens schools’ abilities to provide mental health supports to students, invests in peer support, and provides millions in funding to county behavioral health services.
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.
Youth Justice
The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice in Wisconsin: What Does it Tell Us About the Future of the System?
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for safety planning within secure facilities due to a unique set of risks and vulnerabilities for youth who are in custody.1 In comparison to other states, Wisconsin has demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving...
Progress Amidst the Crisis
Last month, we shared some of the ways that youth in custody and the staff who serve them are more vulnerable to COVID-19. We also urged Wisconsin officials and administrators to follow guidelines from Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice to reduce the risk of...
COVID-19 Means Greater Anxiety for Youth Who are Incarcerated
While we all adjust to Governor Evers’ Safer at Home Order, we must cope with the daily restrictions on our movement and increased anxiety about the safety of our families, friends, and colleagues. At the same time, there are hundreds of confined youth in our juvenile...
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