Message from the Executive Director:
Adapting to Changing Times
by Charity Eleson
In this column, Charity explores the impact the current economic climate is going to have on the Council's work, both in terms of our policy agenda and how we go about setting priorities as we move forward.
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De Profundis: Emerging from the Depths of a Really, Really Deep Budget Hole
by Jon Peacock
State budget season is nearly upon us, and the 2009-11 edition promises to be an agonizing one. The Governor and Legislature will be faced with the daunting task of addressing an enormous deficit, most recently estimated at a mind-boggling $5.4 billion. In this article, Jon assesses the magnitude of the problem and examines some options for finding more revenue.
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Foreclosure USA:
Finally On the Verge of Direct Help for Large Numbers of Homeowners in Trouble
by John Keckhaver
Well into the foreclosure crisis, governments and the finance industry itself have finally begun taking concrete steps to address the problem by finding ways to help struggling homeowners modify the terms of their mortgage loans. But will this be soon enough and powerful enough in the face of an increasing unemployment and an economy stubbornly stuck in recession?
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Election Day 2008: What Do the Results Mean for Kids?
by Sabrina Gentile
Wisconsin turned significantly bluer on election day, with voters choosing Barack Obama by a wide margin and turning control of the State Assembly over to the Democrats. In this article, Sabrina examines what the events of Nov. 4 could mean for children and families in Wisconsin.
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A Tribute to Rebecca Young (1934-2008)
by Jon Peacock
Former state legislator Rebecca Young died in November after a lengthy battle with cancer. Becky fought tirelessly on behalf of children and families, and will be sorely missed by advocates. Jon had the privilege of working with Becky for several years; here he recounts some of the qualities that made her a great friend to the Council and a powerful voice for kids, women and all people who are disadvantaged. ________________________________________

On the ground with...
Marilyn Feil, Housing Caseworker,
Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin
interview by Bob Jacobson
The CAP agencies are on the front lines of the housing crisis, helping families cope with impending eviction. In this interview, Marilyn Feil talks about how the current economic downturn has affected the ability of low-income families in Dane Co. to maintain stable housing.

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Did you know that you can access all sorts of useful data about the well-being of Wisconsin's children and families via the WisKids Count portion of our website? There are a lot of tools available for county-by-county comparisons and generating tables, charts, etc. Check it out.

And did you know that WCCF publishes e-newsletters on a variety of specific issues, including health care, early education, economic support, juvenile justice and other youth issues, and budget and tax matters? Well, we do. If you are interested in any of these issues, please consider signing up for one or more of these email bulletins. You can also sign up via that page for action alerts and for one or more of our campaigns. Once you see the impressive volume of work we are doing on the issues that matter to you, you will no doubt feel moved to help support this work by making a donation to WCCF.