Brighter Futures Initiative

Group of happy teenagers

The Brighter Futures Initiative (BFI) promotes:

  • Healthy families and youth
  • School success for youth
  • Youth safety in their families and communities
  • Successful navigation from adolescence to adulthood

Legislation

BFI supports evidence-based, positive youth development, and prevention strategies focusing on the legislative outcomes set forth in Section 48.545, Wisconsin Statutes:

  • Prevent and reduce the incidence of youth violence and other delinquent behavior;
  • Prevent and reduce the incidence of youth alcohol and other drug use and abuse;
  • Prevent and reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect;
  • Prevent and reduce the incidence of non-marital pregnancy and increase the use of abstinence to prevent non-marital pregnancy; and
  • Increase adolescent self-sufficiency by encouraging high school graduation, vocational preparedness, improved social and other interpersonal skills and responsible decision-making.

Program Overview

BFI projects reflect the unique needs and resources of each community, while focusing on the legislative outcomes. Many projects consist of partnerships between agencies in order to maximize resources by using a cross-systems approach. These partnerships often involve:

  • Social services
  • Health departments
  • School districts
  • Youth justice
  • Tribal agencies
  • Police departments
  • Community-based
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Local businesses
  • Youth-focused coalitions/alliances

BFI Programs

A list of Brighter Futures Initiative Programs by county in Wisconsin.

BFI Programs Map shows where the different programs are located, and who to contact should you have a question about a specific program.