Wendy's
Wonderful Kids
I was fortunate enough to sit in on a
presentation by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) on their
Wendy's Wonderful Kids program. The DTFA awards grants to private
and public adoption agencies to help with hiring adoption
professionals who implement child-focused programs designed to move
America's longest waiting children from foster care into adoptive
families.
The majority of children served by the
Wendy's Wonderful Kids program are above 8 years
of age, 35% have had 6 or more placements and over half of them
have been in the foster car system for more than 4 years. Many
would be destined to age out of the foster care system if not for this
program.
As a member of the Speaker's Task Force
on Foster Care, I can easily see the benefits that DTFA provides for the
children involved in the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program. Every child
deserves to have a safe and loving home.
Recently released
research from a five-year evaluation of Wendy’s
Wonderful Kids shows that children served by the
program are up to three times more likely to get
adopted.
Read the full research
results here.
Public Hearing for my Foster
Forward Bill
As part of the Foster Forward legislative
package put out by the Speaker's Task Force on Foster Care I
introduced Assembly Bill 775- which will streamline the process for
child placement permanency. I feel that this bill is necessary
for the overall welfare of the children in our foster care system and am
delighted that it has received a public hearing with support from a wide
variety of organizations such as Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and Circuit
Judge Christopher Foley. Thank you to everyone who came to the
public hearing and participated in the discussion.
I
especially want to thank my co-authors Representative Doyle and Senator
Darling for their support and thank the Speaker’s Task Force on Foster
Care for giving us all the opportunity to delve into this important
issue and address the concerns we heard from those involved in the child
welfare system.
NR 151 News!
I am
excited to announce that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will be
holding a hearing on January 24th to discuss the proposed changes to NR
151, after which a vote will be held regarding its adoption. The
proposed changes are something for which I have been advocating for since I
joined the Assembly. It has been a long process and I'm immensely
pleased that the results have the support of Clean Wisconsin (read their
statement
here) and a variety of environmental organizations. The rules strike
a reasonable balance between the interests of the agriculture community
and the need to protect our groundwater.
I look
forward to attending the hearing and testifying in support of the new
NR 151 changes. If you would like more information on the changes,
you can
follow this link!
WDOR Interview
Be sure to
tune in to WDOR at 10:20 a.m. on Monday, January 15 to hear me live on
the air! I greatly enjoy these radio interviews as they give me an
opportunity to share updates on the progress we are making down in
Madison. This is also great chance for you to call in
and give your input on local issues and bills that affect you!
Upcoming District Events!
What:
Baileys Harbor Winter Farm Market
Where:
Baileys Harbor Town Hall, 2392 Cty F,
Baileys Harbor, WI
When: January 13, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Details: "Featuring locally
grown and handmade items."
What:
Story Hour
Where: Ridges Sanctuary, Cook-Albert
Fuller Center, 8166 Hwy 57, Baileys harbor, WI
When: January 13, 11:00pm
Details:
"Nature
themed books, crafts and hot chocolate. For all ages. Free
but donations welcome."
What:
Door County Ukulele Society Jam
Where: 3866 Gibralter Rd, Fish Creek, WI
When: January 14, 1:00pm - 2:45pm
Details: "Open to all ukulele
players and skill levels. Locals and tourists welcome.
Free."
In Closing...
