La Follette School of Public Affairs
Inspiring evidence-based policymaking

Family Impact Seminars

Family Impact Seminars convene policymakers to discuss pressing policy issues and how they impact families.

The Family Impact Seminar program is rooted in the belief that good government ought to be based on hard evidence drawn from rigorous research and analysis. For each seminar, lawmakers on the Advisory Board come together to select a relevant bi-partisan issue area that the seminar should address. Past seminars have looked at workforce development, childcare, juvenile justice, health care, and homelessness. For 40 years, the Family Impact Seminars have provided high-quality, objective information to policymakers and examined how policies affect families.

Testimonials

Recent topics

Advisory Board

The Family Impact Seminars are an initiative of the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, with generous financial support from the UW–Madison Chancellor’s Office and Phyllis M. Northway Fund.

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Send a message to our outreach team at outreach@lafollette.wisc.edu.

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Previous seminar topics

Rebuilding Wisconsin’s Child Care Infrastructure — February 8, 2022

Beyond Healthcare Policy: Building the Foundation of Health for Wisconsin Families — January 13, 2021

Strategies to Divert Adolescents with Behavioral Health Needs from the Juvenile Justice System — January 29, 2020

Building Strong Wisconsin Families: Evidence-Based Approaches to Address Toxic Stress in Children — March 19, 2019

Opportunities for Strengthening Wisconsin’s Workforce — January 31, 2018

A Place to Call Home: Evidence-Based Strategies for Addressing Homelessness across Wisconsin — January 25, 2017

Past seminar topics

Rebuilding Wisconsin’s Child Care Infrastructure

February 8, 2022

Beyond Healthcare Policy: Building the Foundation of Health for Wisconsin Families

January 13, 2021

Strategies to Divert Adolescents with Behavioral Health Needs from the Juvenile Justice System

January 29, 2020

Building Strong Wisconsin Families: Evidence-Based Approaches to Address Toxic Stress in Children

March 19, 2019

Opportunities for Strengthening Wisconsin’s Workforce

January 31, 2018

A Place to Call Home: Evidence-Based Strategies for Addressing Homelessness across Wisconsin

January 25, 2017

Advisory Board

Testimonials

The Wisconsin Family Impact Seminars program is rooted in the belief that good government ought to be based on hard evidence drawn from rigorous research and analysis. Recently policymakers have begun to ask more frequently for evidence-based information to guide their decisions. Yet policymakers do not have the staff or time to gather all the relevant data on the many complex issues that confront them. The information that policymakers receive is often fragmented, biased, and less focused on family issues. In response, the Family Impact Seminars provide high-quality, objective information to policymakers and examine policies through a family impact lens.

Since 1993, the seminars have attracted legislators from both sides of the aisle. Seventy-five current legislators have participated in at least one seminar event and another 20 offices have sent a legislative aide. Thus, the seminars have reached 72% of Wisconsin’s 132 legislative offices.

In evaluations, participants rate the seminars highly. On a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), the average objectivity rating for all 38 seminars is 4.4. These high marks on objectivity were not at the expense of the seminar’s relevance (4.4) or usefulness (4.2).

What do legislators think about the Family Impact Seminars?

Past seminars

Recent Wisconsin Family Impact Seminars

The Wisconsin Family Impact Seminars are an initiative of the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, with generous financial support from the UW–Madison Chancellor’s Office and Phyllis M. Northway Fund.