Improving Foster Care One Step at a Time

Last November, the Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care completed its final hearing and unveiled a list of legislative recommendations to improve the foster care system in Wisconsin. The group began hearings last fall touring different areas throughout Wisconsin to hear from experts in foster care about the challenges the system is facing and how it can be improved.

Our hard work culminated in the unveiling of the Foster Forward agenda that included a number of bills aimed at improving foster care in Wisconsin. On Thursday, I testified on Assembly Bill 780 before my colleagues in the Assembly Education committee. This legislation includes three commonsense solutions that will improve procedures that schools must follow when a pupil is placed in out-of-home-care (foster care). The improvements will ensure that schools receive timely information related to a student’s transition into out-of-home-care that will assist in what is often a difficult situation for the child.

Although this proposal is only a small piece of a much larger puzzle, it is an important step in the right direction as we continue collaborating and working towards improving foster care in Wisconsin. I’m looking forward to continuing this effort with my Assembly colleagues.

Have a terrific weekend!

On Monday, I had the pleasure of kicking off the week at Meadowview Elementary to talk with 4th grade students about state government. We had a great conversation and the students asked insightful questions. Thanks for inviting me! I look forward to visiting again next year!

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting newly enshrined Eagle Scout Samuel Konieczny. For his Eagle Scout service project, Samuel designed and built several new entertainment pieces that will be featured in the Oak Creek Public Library.

I presented him with a citation on behalf of the Assembly in honor of his achievement. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our community!