Ways to help

Children's legislative priorities

Improving Medicaid access to high-quality healthcare

Medicaid is the largest children's health program in the U.S. and covers a broad range of healthcare services with few costs paid by the family. Wisconsin ensures all children, ages birth to 19, have access to health insurance, regardless of income. About 53% of children served at Children's are covered by Medicaid. In 2018, Children's provided over $82 million in uncompensated care; that is why the Medicaid reimbursement rate is very important to our hospital's ability to provide the best care for kids.

Preventing injuries and keeping kids safe

We want our children to be healthy and safe, but they are surrounded by potential for harm on a daily basis. Fortunately, the injuries and illnesses that impact most children can be avoided. Children's helps educate families to provide a safe environment for their children. This includes care seat safety, bike safety, promoting safe sleep environments and teen driving safety.

Promoting public health

In order to strive towards our vision to have Wisconsin's children be the healthiest in the nation, we look beyond the patients and clients we serve to help whole communities. It is important that children are thriving in healthy physical, mental and social emotional environments. This includes ensuring that children are immunized and have access to appropriate asthma care, that they're kept safe from violence, their homes are safe from poisoning risks and that they're able to obtain proper oral healthcare.

Increasing research funding

Children's Research Institute advances pediatric medical research for children in Wisconsin and beyond. We focus on translational research - taking discoveries from the laboratory and converting them to new therapies at patients' bedsides. We invest significant funds in cutting-edge research to help improve the lives of children and families. Increased funding enhances our ability to study and research pediatric-specific illnesses and diseases, determine ways to improve care and find cures to improve children's health.

Supporting foster care and adoption

Children's works with families after a report of child abuse, neglect and/or if a child is unsafe in their home. Children who need foster and adoptive homes come from various backgrounds and have a wide range of unique needs. Children's collaborates with local and state agencies to ensure that children's cases are handled appropriately and that our most vulnerable children are protected and given safe, supportive physical, mental, and emotional care.

Federal letters of support and testimony

November 2022– Children's letter to Congressional delegation on key end-of-year priorities
November 2022 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership in support of Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act
November 2022 – Letter to Congressional leadership on orphan drugs, pediatric pharmaceuticals, pediatric medical devices and more to support kids with rare diseases
September 2022 – Letter to Wisconsin congressional delegation on Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV)
September 2022 – CMS comment letter on Physician Fee Schedule
August 2022 – Response to Health and Human Services request for information on primary care
July 2022 – FDA comment letter on menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars
July 2022 – Coalition letter to Senator Baldwin on FDA role in tobacco and e-cigarette regulations
May 2022 – Wisconsin pediatric provider letter to Congressional delegation on kids' mental and behavioral health
April 2022 – Firearm morbidity and mortality prevention research at CDC and NIH
April 2022 – U.S. House coalition support letter for Supporting Children's Mental Health Care Access Act
March 2022 – Child Poverty Reduction Act coalition letter to congressional leadership
March 2022 – Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program reauthorization coalition support letter
March 2022 – FDA regulation of synthetic nicotine coalition letter
February 2022 – U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Statement for the Record - Dr. Smriti Khare

State letters of support and testimony

May 2022 – Wisconsin Department of Health Services comment letter on postpartum coverage extension
February 2022 – 30th Street Industrial Corridor health system support letter to WI DOT Secretary Thompson
January 2022 – Prohibiting mandated insurance "white bagging" for clinician administered drugs
November 2021 – Coalition memo to Governor Evers re: child abuse and neglect prevention funding
October 2021 – Postpartum coverage extension testimony SB 562
October 2021 – Pediatric health organization memo re: COVID-19 and keeping kids safe and in school
September 2021 – Tobacco 21 Senate Dr. Diaz testimony
September 2021 – Tobacco 21 Senate Dr. Amos testimony
August 2021 – ATV passenger safety coalition testimony
August 2021 – Short-term limited duration insurance plans
July 2021 – Children's Advocacy Network 2021-23 Wisconsin state budget update
June 2021 – Wisconsin Plumbing Code Advisory Committee coalition memo re: water stations in schools
June 2021– Sudden cardiac arrest awareness for student athletes testimony AB 82
May 2021 – Wisconsin pediatric health organizations letter re: COVID-19
May 2021 – Wisconsin Hospital Association Chief Medical Officer letter re: COVID-19
May 2021 – Medicaid postpartum coverage coalition memo
March 2021 – PAH coal tar-based sealants testimony AB 131
March 2021 – Dental therapy cosponsorship coalition memo

Milwaukee area letters of support and testimony

May 2022 – Milwaukee Market Match program Finance Committee testimony
October 2021 – Coalition memo to Milwaukee County Executive and Supervisors re: Market Match fruit and vegetable incentive program
September 2021 – Triple P, The Parenting Network coalition letter to Milwaukee Common Council re: American Rescue Plan Act funds for parent and family supports
July 2021 – Health care system coalition letter to Mayor Barrett re: American Rescue Plan Act funds for violence prevention

July 2020 – Letter to Wauwatosa Common Council re: mask ordinance
July 2020 – Coalition letter to Mayor Barrett re: mask ordinance

April 2019 - Wauwatosa Equity & Inclusion Commission Support Letter
March 2019 - Dr. Paradis Milwaukee Common Council Steering & Rules Committee testimony on lead poisoning prevention

Join our advocacy network

Children's Advocacy Network will keep you up-to-date on issues affecting children's health and well-being so you can contact your legislators on topics that matter to you.

Contact us

For information about our advocacy efforts, email us.

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