Category Archives: Advocacy

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 →

My child advocacy journey: Working together to make a difference

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Children's Advocacy NetworkAs a cardiac nurse, I cared for patients one at a time as they went through heart surgery. My role was to educate and support the family, and keep the cardiac teams informed about patients in the surgical pathway.

In time, I wanted to be able to impact the care these patients received before, during and after their hospital stay. That’s when I took a leadership role in the heart program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. It has been very fulfilling to help steer the program with a view on our number 1 priority: our …Continue reading →

Child advocacy: If you don’t talk to your elected officials, they can’t hear you

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Children's Advocacy Network

I used to get so frustrated with the decisions made by my elected officials. Why didn’t they do what I wanted them to do? They’re supposed to represent me, right?

One problem — I never communicated with any of them. How were they supposed to represent me if I didn’t explain how I felt? That’s when I discovered …Continue reading →

We can make a difference for kids, but we need your help

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Linda Bevec’s daughter, Claire, received a kidney transplant at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin when she was just 10 years old. Going through that experience made Linda realize how important it is to be a voice for children — because often children can’t speak …Continue reading →

Give, advocate and volunteer: What it means to live united

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United Way of Greater MilwaukeeThe United Way of Greater Milwaukee recently announced a $51.5 million goal for this year’s community campaign. I am proud to be serving as a co-chair for the campaign because I know the best way to build a strong community it to unite with people around three fundamental issues: education, income and health.

This is an opportunity to showcase Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin as a leader in advancing …Continue reading →

How you can keep kids safe from sexual abuse

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The Penn State sexual abuse scandal has shown there are horrific consequences when adults fail to take action to protect children. When NCAA President Mark Emmert announced the sanctions against the university, he said they should serve as “a stark wake-up call for everyone involved in college sports.”

I would like to think this not only wakes up college sports, but all of us as well. We need to recognize that we all are responsible for protecting children from sexual abuse. To keep the kids in your life safe, remember to: …Continue reading →

Why one Kenosha girl is writing a letter to Michelle Obama on behalf of every child in Wisconsin

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No one can tell the stories of children’s hospitals better than the patients and families that we serve. Every year, the Children’s Hospital Association hosts Family Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.

This year, Claire Bevec, from Kenosha, Wis., is taking her story to Washington, D.C. She will join nearly 30 other child patients and their families from across the country to ask Congress to protect health care for children. National health care programs our kids rely …Continue reading →

We’re heading to Capitol Hill for Family Advocacy Day

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Claire and Linda

Claire and Linda Bevec

On behalf of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin our family will participate in the Children’s Hospital Association’s eighth annual Family Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. next month.

Family Advocacy Day brings approximately 30 families from the nation’s top children’s hospitals to Washington each summer. While there, families educate members of Congress and the media about the quality health care that all children and families need and to address critical medical and health care concerns for children specifically in their home state.

Our daughter Claire was born six weeks premature …Continue reading →

Why you need to speak up for the children of Wisconsin

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Children's Advocacy NetworkAs a member of the Children’s Advocacy Network (C.A.N.), I stay up-to-date on important issues related to child and family health. The network provides easy access to information related to local, state and federal public policy issues that affect children and families.

The true political process isn’t exactly what we see and hear in the media. Each of us has a voice and I believe an obligation to advocate for what is best for children. Without …Continue reading →

Why legislators value your advocacy and how you can get involved

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This is a guest post by Wisconsin State Representative Jason Fields and Wisconsin State Senator Leah Vukmir.

We are often asked, “Does hearing from me really make a difference when you are voting on policy issues?” The answer is YES! We benefit from and rely on hearing from our constituents about issues that are important …Continue reading this post