In this section
Children's legislative priorities
Improving and supporting access to high-quality health care for kids
Children's is committed to advocating for a strong Medicaid program for kids. More than half of the kids we care for are covered by Medicaid and we want to ensure that program funding supports the care and services kids need. We monitor and advocate on provider and insurance reimbursement, regulations and policies. We encourage increased investments in pediatric-specific care, pediatric research and the pediatric expert workforce.
Engaging in public and community health efforts
In order to strive towards our vision to have Wisconsin's children be the healthiest in the nation, we look beyond our hospital and clinic walls to help meet community needs. It is important that children are thriving in all aspects of health: physical, mental, social and dental health. These efforts include: promoting immunizations, improving access to healthy and affordable food, ensuring safe and stable housing, reducing environmental health hazards and more.
Preventing injuries and keeping kids safe
Prevention is a key component of pediatric health and well-being. Children's provides programs, services and education to promote safety and help prevent injuries and harm. We advocate to support: care seat safety, bike safety, promoting safe sleep environments, teen driving safety, gun violence prevention, concussion protocols and much more.
Supporting the well-being of kids and families
At more than a dozen locations across the state, Children's provides child and family counseling, child advocacy and protection services, community health education, family preservation and support services, and foster care and adoption services. Children’s supports and strengthens children and families across Wisconsin with family-centered and strengths-based programs to help keep children safely at home in a nurturing environment. We recruit, license and support foster and adoptive parents and are licensed by the State of Wisconsin to match and place children in safe and stable homes. Children's advocates for funding and policies for parent supports, to prevent abuse and support survivors, and to help meet the needs of children in out-of-home care.
Federal letters of support and testimony
- October 2024 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership on Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act
- October 2024 – Coalition letter to Congressional delegation on Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act
- July 2024 – Safe States Alliance coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: CDC Injury Center funding
- June 2024 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: gun violence prevention funding for research
- May 2024 – Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program coalition letter
- May 2024 – Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act coalition letter
- May 2024 – Emergency Medical Services for Children appropriations coalition letter
- May 2024 – Pediatric Disaster Care Program appropriations coalition letter
- February 2024 – EPA comment letter re: Lead and Copper Rule Improvements
- December 2023 – FDA comment letter re: laboratory-developed tests
- December 2023 – ATF comment letter re: expanded background checks
- September 2023 – Coalition letter in support of bone marrow donation employee time off
- September 2023 – Chorus Community Health Plans comment letter re: short-term, limited duration health plans
- July 2023 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act
- May 2023 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program funding
- April 2023 – Project ADAM letter re: Access to AEDs Act
- April 2023 – Coalition letter re: Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act funding and Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Grants
- April 2023 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: gun violence prevention funding for research
- March 2023 – DEA comment letter re: telemedicine prescribing
- March 2023 – FDA comment letter re: lead in baby food
- March 2023 – Coalition letter to Congressional leadership re: community violence intervention and youth violence prevention funds
- March 2023 – Coalition letter to Congresswoman Moore re: menthol cigarettes and little cigars
State letters of support and testimony
- February 2024 – Child advocacy center funding testimony
- February 2024 – Healthy food incentives and addressing childhood obesity testimony
- February 2024 – Coalition letter in support of child advocacy center funding
- February 2024 –Youth psychiatric residential treatment facilities testimony
- January 2024 – Child advocacy center funding testimony
- January 2024 – Family Foundations Home Visiting funding testimony
- January 2024 – Asthma management plans and inhalers in schools testimony
- January 2024 – Family Foundations Home Visiting funding testimony
- November 2023 – Testimony in support of dental therapy legislation
- November 2023– Coalition memo in support of dental therapy legislation
- November 2023 – Testimony in support of like-kin definition legislation
- October 2023 – Coalition memo in opposition to tobacco bar legislation
- September 2023 – Coalition testimony in opposition of ATV passenger legislation
- September 2023 – Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin testimony on fatality review teams
- August 2023 – Safe kids testimony on fatality review teams
- August 2023 – Testimony on fatality review teams and other related legislation
- May 2023 – Safe harbor testimony to end charging youth victims of sex trafficking with prostitution
- May 2023 – Hospital CEO letter to support hospitals in caring for patients covered by Medicaid
- May 2023 – Air ambulance respiratory therapist testimony
- April 2023 – Joint Finance Committee testimony on Family Resource Centers and Triple P Positive Parenting Program
- April 2023 – Joint Finance Committee testimony on Dental Clinic
- March 2023 – Postpartum eligibility extension testimony
- February 2023 – Coalition letter on postpartum eligibility extension
- 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
Milwaukee area letters of support and testimony
- February 2023 – Milwaukee County American Rescue Plan Act Allocation Task Force re: lead poisoning prevention
- 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.