This Task Force has merged with Citizen Action as they focus on Medicaid Expansion and Childcare Support, and partner with WI Public Education Network to improve support for children 0-18. In our six years of working on this issue, our leaders feel these components are the most vital to ensuring our children are cared for, as legislators have missed the mark in understanding the value of consistently investing in families. JONAH will continue to share news but are not leading the organizing of this issue – as We are Stronger Together!
Questions? Contact John Wagner at jwagner@chipvalley.com.
See our past work in this issue below…
The problem JONAH sees: Poverty is a nationwide issue, and the poverty experienced by children in the US is particularly disturbing in the state of Wisconsin where the racial disparity for children in poverty is greater than any other state.
Mission: To build support the state-wide End Child Poverty campaign by raising awareness of the crisis of child poverty and its adult outcomes in Wisconsin and garner public support and pressure for evidence-based solutions locally and state-wise
Accomplishments Highlights:
- The collection of over 400 signatures in support of the state-wide End Child Poverty campaign petition asking legislators directly to use evidence-base solutions to cut both Wisconsin’s child poverty rate and the racial disparity associated with child poverty in half in the next decade.
- Successfully lobbying for and supporting the passage of official Eau Claire County Board and Eau Claire County Human Services Board Resolutions in support of the state-wide End Child Poverty campaign.
- Orchestrating presentations on the research and Federal recommendations for poverty to a variety of groups and stakeholders including: The League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties, Spirit Lutheran Church, WI Legslative Budget Committee, Gov. Tony Evers at a listening session at CVTC, and St. James Catholic Church.
- Education outreach efforts including earning news coverage in Chippewa Valley Family, Chippewa Valley Post, and Bottom Line (Bayfield/Ashland Counties) a mass distribution of fliers on ending child poverty across the Chippewa Valley.
- Collection of first-hand testimonials from affected people in our community to promote awareness of how the problem of child poverty impacts our real neighbors and community members.
- Formed a coalition with Kids First and Citizen Action.