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The New Year brings opportunity, a chance to make changes. Here at the Council we take the New Year very seriously. We reassess our work from the previous year, make adjustments or launch brand new plans. But every three years the New Year is even more significant. In preparation for a new biennial budget, we release a new set of policy priorities. This four-month process begins with a review of our 10-year strategic priorities. Policy analysts collect relevant research and trend data, outreach staff contact other organizations and advocates, and then we meet, meet again, do more research and…meet some more. We present this comprehensive list to our board and they help us winnow it down to a list of the most vital issues needing our attention. This final list serves as a proactive agenda and sets the stage for the majority of the work will we undertake in the coming years. We see this as a way to start a conversation about making changes and bringing new opportunities to the children and families of our state. It is a challenging process; imagine the many directions we could go in. We struggle because if we just went with our initial inclinations, the list would be incredibly long. But reality has to set in at some point: Where are our resources most needed? Where is a void in leadership that begs to be filled? And most importantly, what do we think will make a real difference? I turn these questions over to you as you review our new policy priorities for 2008-2010. Did we succeed in capturing some of the most critical issues facing kids and their families? Did we succeed in aligning with your vision for moving families forward? We ran a series of radio ads this past month, urging people to visit our Vision 2020 website and take the pledge to help end child poverty. We asked folks to put ending child poverty on their list of New Year’s resolutions. I urge you to read Vicky Selkowe’s article in this issue of WisKids Journal. In it we share our thoughts on how each one of us can help move forward the vision that every child in our state has the opportunity to grow up in a just community and a nurturing family. Join us by putting this on the top of your list of resolutions. [Editor’s note]: The New Year is also a good opportunity to tell us what you think about this newsletter. Do you find WisKids Journal useful? What aspects of it are the most helpful? What don’t you like about it? We hope to provide you with the best information possible related to the issues you care about most, but sometimes it’s hard to tell whether we’re succeeding, or to what degree. You can help by giving us feedback. Or if there is an issue you think we should be covering but have been ignoring, let us know. We may not be able to fulfill your request, but as an old boss of mine once told me when I was about 19 years old, “If you wants something, you gots to ask for it.” That boss was kind of an idiot in most respects, but I think he managed to nail it with that little nugget of wisdom. So ask away, please. You can email me at bjacobson@wccf.org--BJ |
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