For Immediate Release
September 24, 2008
CONTACT: Jennifer Jones 608-266-9000
Wisconsin Receives Grant to Host Governor's Summit on Poverty and Economic Opportunity
Department of Children and Families' Secretary Reggie Bicha announced that Wisconsin was selected to receive a $12,000 grant from the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices to host a Governor's Summit on Poverty and Economic Opportunity.
"This is a wonderful opportunity with the creation of the new Department to bring together key leaders to develop a unified agenda to reduce poverty among Wisconsin's children and families," said Bicha. "Research shows that poverty is often times a key indicator for child abuse and neglect, and other issues facing our families. By reducing poverty in our state, we will have a positive impact on the prevention of child abuse and neglect and enhance the quality of life of many Wisconsin families. We look forward to bringing everyone together to discuss ideas for building a stronger and more vibrant Wisconsin."
The grant award will fund activities that are directly related to the planning of the Wisconsin Summit, as well as technical assistance from NGA for summit planning and follow-up. Wisconsin representatives will also participate in meetings with nine other states receiving similar grant awards to strategize about moving state plans forward.
The grant award begins immediately and goes through July 2009. States are required to hold their summit no later than April 30, 2009.
Officially launched on July 1, 2008, the Department of Children and Families is the state's first cabinet agency devoted exclusively to children and families. The Department promotes the social and economic well-being of Wisconsin's children and families. For more information on the Department, visit www.dcf.wisconsin.gov.
- END -