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W.E.C.A.N.

Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed

Image by Marisa Howenstine
  • May 18 Child Care Rally at the Capitol
    May 18 Child Care Rally at the Capitol
    Sat, May 18
    Wisconsin Capitol
    May 18, 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Wisconsin Capitol , State St entrance
    A gathering to bring awareness to early care and education/childcare and its foundational role in our communities and economic success with educators, families, childcare program business owners, other business owners, elected officials, parents and others.
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  • Rally to save Child Care Counts
    Rally to save Child Care Counts
    Tue, Jun 20
    Wisconsin State Capitol
    Jun 20, 2023, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Wisconsin State Capitol, 2 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703, USA
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  • National Day Without Child Care (Childcare Changemakers)
    National Day Without Child Care (Childcare Changemakers)
    Mon, May 08
    Communities throughout the state
    May 08, 2023, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Communities throughout the state, Wisconsin, USA
    Parents and child care providers are unified in demanding public investments for: 1) Living wages for child care providers 2) An equitable childcare system built on racial justice 3) Affordable childcare for all
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  • Thu, Apr 06
    Zoom
    Apr 06, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    Zoom
    Next week is the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Week of the Young Child, in honor of that, Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed (WECAN), Main Street Alliance (MSA), and Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA) are sponsoring: Community Conversation for Change
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  • VOTE
    VOTE
    Tue, Nov 08
    Wisconsin
    Nov 08, 2022, 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
    Wisconsin, Wisconsin, USA
    Statewide officers, US Senator, US Congress, State Assembly, State Senator, County Sheriff, County Coroner, Referendums, and more. Go to www.myvote.wi. gov for personalized information
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  • Wed, Jun 22
    Zoom
    Jun 22, 2022, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
    Zoom
    Learn what CLTS is, how parents can access it, and what supports child care programs can utilize
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  • National Day Without Child Care (Childcare Changemakers)
    National Day Without Child Care (Childcare Changemakers)
    Mon, May 09
    Communities throughout the state
    May 09, 2022, 1:00 AM – 11:00 AM CDT
    Communities throughout the state, Wisconsin, USA
    Parents and child care providers are unified in demanding public investments for: 1) Living wages for child care providers 2) An equitable childcare system built on racial justice 3) Affordable childcare for all
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  • WECAN and Main Street Alliance Tips and Tricks
    WECAN and Main Street Alliance Tips and Tricks
    Wed, Sep 15
    https://forms.gle/6p6vxQgLvyztxHN3A
    Sep 15, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    https://forms.gle/6p6vxQgLvyztxHN3A
    It can be intimidating and nerve wracking to host an elected official or go to a town hall/event and speak in front of others and prevents people from letting elected officials know what we need and start the conversation to create policies that support our communities.
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  • Roundtable With Treasurer Godlewski
    Roundtable With Treasurer Godlewski
    Thu, May 13
    Zoom
    May 13, 2021, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDT
    Zoom
    A chance to discuss childcare policy with the Wisconsin State Treasurer
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  • Starting at Zero
    Starting at Zero
    Wed, Apr 21
    Zoom
    Apr 21, 2021, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
    Zoom
    Showing and discussion of the film "Starting at Zero"
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  • Q&A with Candidates for State Superintendent
    Q&A with Candidates for State Superintendent
    Mon, Mar 29
    Zoom
    Mar 29, 2021, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
    Zoom
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  • Communicating w/Lawmakers Practice Session
    Communicating w/Lawmakers Practice Session
    Tue, Mar 23
    Zoom
    Mar 23, 2021, 6:30 PM
    Zoom
    Practice your story and ask with the WECAN team!
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  • Main Street Academy: Child Care with Patrick Snyder
    Main Street Academy: Child Care with Patrick Snyder
    Fri, Mar 05
    Zoom
    Mar 05, 2021, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Zoom
    Join Ruth Schmidt, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, Kimber Liedl, WECA's Business Engagement Director and State Representative and Chair of the Assembly Children and Families Committee, Patrick Snyder, in discussing Wisconsin’s child care infrastructure
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  • WECA Virtual Advocacy Week
    WECA Virtual Advocacy Week
    Tue, Mar 02
    Zoom
    Mar 02, 2021, 1:00 PM – Mar 04, 2021, 2:00 PM
    Zoom
    Join us as we gather with Wisconsin State legislators for a 45-minute Zoom meeting that includes a briefing on Wisconsin child care workforce issues from WECA and a 30-minute break-out session for participants to talk directly with elected officials and their staff.
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  • A Guide to Reform Using the 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index
    A Guide to Reform Using the 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index
    Wed, Feb 24
    Zoom
    Feb 24, 2021, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST
    Zoom
    During this global pandemic, child care has been recognized as essential, yet most states have failed to enact policies to support and early educators themselves. Reform is needed now more than ever.
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  • Effectively Communicating w/Lawmakers & Beyond: Part 2
    Effectively Communicating w/Lawmakers & Beyond: Part 2
    Thu, Jan 28
    Zoom
    Jan 28, 2021, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
    Zoom
    Held by WECA, in partnership with WI Head Start Association, SFTA and Kids Forward
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Childcare Matters on Green County TV

Corrine Hendrickson and Brooke Skidmore sat down with Patrick Bodell of Green County TV to discuss Childcare Matters and their efforts around raising awareness, advocacy, and lobbying for State Legislation to support childcare facilities. 

We Need Your Help

Child Care Counts (CCC) is funded from the Federal American Rescue Plan and payments are being reduced in June and ending in January unless it is continued in the state budget. Without the continuation of child care counts, a recent WECAN survey found about 11% of all child care businesses have indicated they will immediately close and additional 15% say closure will be imminent. Another 50% will raise rates, on average, 25%. This is between $40-$60 per WEEK per CHILD.

  1. Contact Co-Chair Howard Marklein 608-266-0703 and Co-Chair Rep. Born 608-237-9139 and say, " I am asking you as the co-chair of the JFC to include at least $300 million in the state budget to continue the successful Child Care Counts program. If you don't, it will affect (me, my business, etc) as a (parent, employer, childless colleague sick of doing multiple jobs because my employer can't hire due to the lack of child care, grandparent/friend/family who helps out with child care so my friend/family can work.

  2. Parents, employers, and child care educators/staff only (owners/admin we have results from your survey) please take a few moments to fill out this survey so WECAN can communicate with elected representatives about the consequences if this program isn't continued:

Get Involved

We Need Everyone

Art Class

Advocacy Resources

As Educators, advocacy is our duty.  We can advocate for the children and families we serve, or for ourselves and our colleges in our own learning communities.  We can even use advocacy skills to build a better early childhood system in our state.  Don't know how to start? Click here to find templates and resources to begin your advocacy journey

WECAN News

Important Information and Media Mentions

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