Mental Health Woes Are Hitting Kids Hard: Help May Be On the Way

Good news, parents: you’re doing something right! Recent data ranks Wisconsin tenth in the nation for child well-being, especially for areas such as economic stability and education! Woo-hoo! Party while they’re at school! 

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There is one area of concern, though: mental health. Our kids aren’t coping with things too well. Boo!

Here’s Five Fast Facts About Wisconsin’s Child Mental Health Situation:

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1. 😷Guess Why?- Yep, it’s mostly the frickin’ pandemic’s fault. Wisconsin children particularly suffered with anxiety and depression during this time for many reasons. 
2. 🧑‍💻To the Capitol! - Experts, like those at the Annie E Casey Foundation, are looking to policymakers to solve the issue. There’s no other way around it because it involves your taxes.
3. 🧾What’s The Answer? - Those same experts have offered some very helpful recommendations, with an increase of the child tax credit coming in at the top of the list.
4. 📈How Much? - They suggest raising it from 4% to 16% for parents with one qualifying child and from 11% to 25% for parents with two qualifying children. They say it’s shown to be an effective way to help with mental health issues.
5. 🗳️When Will We Know? - The unfortunate legislative standoff that has been going on in Madison for a few years now means the suggestion will go largely ignored.

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🔥Bottom line: The pandemic hit everyone hard. But it clearly hit our kids harder. The AECF has stepped up and given legislators a clear plan, basically daring them to help people out. Not many other people have the ability (and the stones) to do that. Once again it’s a case of voting for the candidates who can and will stand up to get this done. It is really the only way to make it happen.

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Could your family use an increase in the child tax credit?

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