Advocacy: Making Real Change –  Register Now

Optimal physical, mental, social and emotional health of our youngest children and their families is critical in moving toward a future where all are able to thrive.

This year’s Advocacy Day is a unique collaboration between Raising Wisconsin, WIAAP and the WI Alliance for Infant Mental Health, and will include a full agenda:

Tuesday, February 28 – 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Advocacy 101, Virtual Session – Dr. Dipesh Navsaria

New to advocacy, or interested in a conference preview and Q&A? Join us the night before the meeting to participate. Note: A set of on-demand, virtual trainings will be made available in advance of this event. It is strongly recommended participants access those materials ahead of the virtual Advocacy 101 session.

Wednesday, March 1 – 8:00am – 4:00pm
  • Morning – Virtual speakers and workshops, login at your home, office or desired location
  • Afternoon – Legislative visits with Wisconsin legislators – during registration, you will select virtual meetings, or in-person at the Capitol in Madison. (Appointments with legislative offices are guaranteed only for attendees who register before February 20, 2023.)

Keynote Speaker: Dr. David Willis, Senior Fellow, Center for the Study of Social Policy

Dr. Willis is a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy, where his focus is on the intersection of child health and broader community-based early childhood systems. Before joining the Center for the Study of Social Policy, Dr. Willis had previously been the Executive Director of the Perigee Fund,  where his work was focused on the promotion of early relational health, the strengthening of the social and emotional development and advancing the field of Infant Mental Health.   A Developmental-Behavioral pediatrician, Dr. Willis was a clinician in Oregon for more than 30 years with a practice focused on early childhood development and family therapy. Prior to his work with the Perigee Fund, Dr. Willis served as director of the Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Services at the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Child Health Bureau.

During his career, Dr. Willis also has been a Harris Mid-Career Fellow with childhood development nonprofit ZERO TO THREE; the past president of the Oregon Pediatric Society; an executive member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Early Education and Child Care; and chair of the AAP’s Board’s Early Brain & Child Development Strategic Initiative.

All are welcome!

We look forward to learning together, and advancing the work we all do for kids in our state.