Author Archives: Michelle Mettner

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin employees speak out at WHA Advocacy Day

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2013 WHA Advocacy Day

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin employees at WHA Advocacy Day

Last week, I had the pleasure of accompanying a group from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin as we joined more than 800 hospital leaders and volunteers at Wisconsin Hospital Association’s (WHA) Advocacy Day in Madison. After hearing from keynote speakers U.S. Representative Paul Ryan, David Rehr of the Graduate School of Political Management at the George Washington University, and Department of Health Services Secretary Kitty Rhoades, as well as a bipartisan legislative panel, Children’s Hospital employees had the opportunity to …Continue reading →

One Year Anniversary of a Smoke Free Wisconsin

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Today marks the one year anniversary of a Smoke Free Wisconsin!

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin has been supporting SmokeFree Wisconsin since the beginning. A big thanks to Children’s Hospital employees and our community advocates for helping get this law passed! We know a smoke free Wisconsin makes a positive difference for our kids.

And our advocacy efforts continue to make a difference! Governor Scott Walker issued the following statement on the upcoming anniversary of the state’s smoking ban. “Although I …Continue reading →

Help me advocate for your child

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Help me advocate for your child

Thirty-six lab coats hang outside our hospital to raise awareness of the impact of proposed funding cuts to resident training programs on health care for children.

When I tell people what I do for a living, often I get a puzzled look when I say, “I advocate for children’s health.” I explain that I work for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and it’s my job to make sure our elected officials understand how the work they do impacts the lives of children.

For example, a recent proposed change in President Obama’s budget calls for the elimination of federal funding for Children’s Graduate Medical Education. This cut is alarming because it has a real impact on Wisconsin and the health of our children. The funding provides children’s …Continue reading →

The Medicaid safety net

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Children's Advocacy NetworkFor so many Americans who lost their jobs and their insurance, Medicaid is an important safety net. Now imagine you lost both your job and your insurance benefits and your child gets sick, but you have the Medicaid safety net. So, you call your doctor, only to be told that your doctor’s office can’t see your child because he or she cannot see any more Medicaid patients. You are told this is because the state can’t afford to pay the costs for the services. …Continue reading →

Lifesaving instruction in schools: E-mail your legislator today!

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Our state’s Legislature is considering legislation that can help save lives in our schools. Can you help us?

Assembly Bill 725 will require all schools in Wisconsin to offer enrolled high school students instruction in lifesaving skills.

In situations when an emergency happens, time is of the essence. Many lives can be saved because people at the scene of a cardiac emergency have the necessary tools to recognize and respond appropriately.

Cardiovascular diseases remain Wisconsin’s No. 1 killer, yet many lives can be saved if simple lifesaving procedures are initiated by lay rescuers. By providing simple instruction in the high school setting, our young adults will have an increased comfort level and the necessary tools to help save a life.
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Infants, toddlers and teenagers take over congress

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It’s a funny headline that invokes funny images – toddlers running down the halls of congress, infants putting on their best diapers to impress and teenagers texting about a critical vote.

It’s a funny image, because this could never happen. Children – from the youngest to the oldest – don’t get opportunities to speak up on issues that impact their lives. Think of the numerous laws that impact children – abuse, neglect, reimbursement or disability, to name just a few. Yet who do we rely on to make sure those affected are heard?

Advocacy efforts rely on the strength and action of volunteers who care about kids and want to make a difference. Children are not able to represent themselves on issues that directly impact their care. …Continue reading →

Drunk driving reform protects kids, more work to be done

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Today, Governor Doyle signed into law historic drunk-driving legislation, Senate Bill 66. Before passing the bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) and Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa), Wisconsin was one of only two states that did not issue felony charges until the fifth Operating While Intoxicated arrest or stop. This bill will make an OWI a felony after the fourth offense within five years.

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Your voices were heard

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This is an update to a blog post dated May 8. Read about the statewide smoking ban.

Last night just after 10 p.m., the State Assembly voted 61-38 to concur with the 25-8 vote earlier in the day by the State Senate to pass a statewide smoking ban to go into effect July 5, 2010. More than 40 amendments were offered to attempt to water down the reach of the statewide ban.  All of the amendments failed. It now goes to the Governor for his signature.

Congratulations and thank you to the many people at Children’s Hospital and Health System who worked in support of this legislation year after year, and so many of you who took the time this week to call your legislators.  Your voices were heard!

–Michelle Mettner, vice president of Government Relations, Children’s Hospital and Health System

Statewide Smoking Ban Legislation

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This week at the State Capitol, Legislators, the American Cancer Society, Smoke-Free Wisconsin and the Tavern League announced a compromise on the statewide smoking ban legislation. The deal would include a ban in all public workplaces, including bars and taverns to go into effect July 5, 2010.  Exceptions to the ban would be granted to existing cigar bars that receive a majority of their income from tobacco sales and tobacco retailers who derive 75 percent of their income from tobacco sales.  The compromise deal does not allow for smoking rooms in hotels or motels.  It does provide language to ensure taverns could have outdoor smoking areas.

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Speak Now for Kids

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The National Association of Children’s Hospitals yesterday launched a grassroots mobilization campaign asking Congress and the Obama Administration to make health care reform work for children. The campaign is in partnership with many organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Defense Fund and Children’s Hospitals around the country, including ours.

…Continue reading →