Happy New Year from Health First Wisconsin!

As we look ahead to a new year and a brand-new legislative session, Health First Wisconsin is excited about the challenges and opportunities that we face.

Like many of you, we have an ambitious agenda for 2013. Our New Year’s Resolution is simple: we resolve to continue our work to advocate for policies and changes that improve health where it starts – in our homes, workplaces, playgrounds, schools and parks.

In 2013, Health First Wisconsin aspires to make Wisconsin a place where the healthy choice is the easy choice. We are committed to making sure that every single person – from Kenosha to Platteville to Beloit to Superior to Marinette and everywhere in between – has an opportunity to achieve their best health.

We know that our challenges are tremendous – despite record-low youth smoking rates, tobacco still remains the leading preventable cause of death in Wisconsin. Our state is plagued by alcohol misuse and we have the highest rates of high-risk drinking in the nation. And we spend a reported $1.5 billion annually on obesity-related medical costs.

At Health First Wisconsin we don’t dwell on these statistics. Instead, we use these numbers to inform decision-makers and empower our work. Every single day, we are working hard to promote effective, common sense policy and environmental changes that will reduce the burden of commercial tobacco on our state, curb alcohol misuse, and make meaningful strides to combat obesity.

In 2013, Health First Wisconsin will:  

• Continue the fight against Big Tobacco by working to protect the state’s investment in comprehensive tobacco prevention and control efforts that help smokers quit and stop kids from using tobacco in the first place.
• Further protect youth from tobacco products by making sure that all tobacco products – especially the candy-flavored junk targeting our kids – are taxed fairly.
• Continue to support tribal communities in their efforts to go smoke-free and reduce commercial tobacco use.
• Work to curb alcohol misuse and change Wisconsin’s destructive alcohol culture by continuing to build a strong, statewide coalition on alcohol policy.
• Encourage Wisconsinites to change our permissive attitude toward underage drinking by eliminating loopholes in drinking age laws.
• Help communities reduce drunk driving by advocating for Wisconsin to join many other states in allowing local law enforcement to use sobriety checkpoints if needed.
• Expand our work to stem the rise of obesity in Wisconsin by promoting healthy food systems and physical activity.
• Support Farm to School programs that invest in the local economy and ensure our kids are eating healthy and can achieve academic success.
• Promote healthy and active communities starting at our schools and government buildings.

We have ambitious goals, but we are confident that with the help of our partners and supporters across the state, 2013 will be a banner year for the health of Wisconsin.

Together, we can move the dial on Wisconsin’s health and work to make our state the healthiest in the nation.

Stay tuned for more details and updates on our progress by checking back here, liking us on Facebook and signing up as a supporter.