We’ve declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month throughout the state to raise awareness and demonstrate our support for victims of domestic violence and their families.

Domestic violence affects tens of thousands of women, children, and men every year in Wisconsin, and 58 people lost their lives as a result of domestic violence in 2015.

Every citizen of our state deserves to feel safe. We’ve shown our support for domestic violence victims in the past by passing legislation, strengthening protections, and implementing reforms and services providing victims and their children with the help they need to break the cycle of abuse.

Today, we recognized three individuals during a special ceremony at the State Capitol for their dedication to ending domestic violence in Wisconsin.

Our thanks to Alice Skenandore, who received the Justice Award, Sue Perry, who received the Courage Award, and Diane Wolff, who received the Patricia J. Waschbisch Lifetime Achievement Award, for their efforts to advocate for domestic violence victims.  

Our state is united in our efforts to prevent domestic abuse and stop the violence from destroying families and our communities. Declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month demonstrates our continued commitment to caring for those affected by domestic abuse.

A copy of the Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation is attached.

Hi, First Lady Tonette Walker here.

I am thrilled to say Fostering Futures is making excellent progress in making Wisconsin fully Trauma-Informed. In Phase II of our project, we have 20 teams participating with 13 of these teams coming from the county level, and seven from the state level. 

Last Monday, I gathered with the steering committee and the county teams in Wausau to discuss their progress and how we can better help them meet their goals. We were very pleased with the work they have done, and I am excited to continue hearing more success stories along the way.

On Tuesday, representatives from seven participating state agency teams met here in Madison to discuss their forward progress. I could really feel the excitement and positive energy everyone had working together towards achieving our goals. I am impressed with their incredible creativity to implement Trauma-Informed Care Principles into the work their agencies do.  

In Fostering Futures, our goal is that the state of Wisconsin be fully Trauma-Informed. Everyone has the ability to make a difference in the lives of children and families in Wisconsin.

For more information on Fostering Futures, please visit the Fostering Futures website below. 

With 16 million acres of forests, Wisconsin rivals New England for the best fall color in the nation. Every year, travelers from across the Midwest come to our state to see the trees change from bright green to stunning autumn hues.

As the second most popular time to travel in the state, the fall season plays an important part in Wisconsin’s $19.3 billion tourism economy.

This year, Wisconsin saw another successful fall season, with peak colors hitting northern Wisconsin in early October and working their way south through mid-October.

More than 100 reporters in all 72 Wisconsin counties helped update the award-winning Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report, which helps travelers search, explore, and interact with fall colors across the state.

The report also provides special notes on nearby events, lodging, dining, and travel tips, like must-see rustic roads and autumn activities.

To learn more about seasonal events in your area and throughout the state, visit www.travelwisconsin.com.

Fun Fact: Travelwisconsin.com had a record-breaking 1.2 million users in September! The Fall Color Report led the way with over 500,000 page views last month.