Public Policy and Advocacy

Staff Contact: Kathy Farnsworth

Public Policy and Advocacy is a cross cutting issue within Wisconsin's Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. Cross cutting issues do not have a separate goal, but instead are threaded throughout the priorities, strategies, and action plans. The priorities and strategies in the WI CCC Plan focus on population-based and system changes through public policy and advocacy.

Current Policy and Advocacy Issues

Farm to School
WCC supports the efforts of local school districts that are participating in a farm to school program. Farm to school programs connect schools with local farms promoting healthy nutrition to decrease obesity. Decreasing obesity is a priority in the prevention chapter of the WI CCC Plan.

60 minutes of physical activity in schools
WCC supports the Active Schools programs which help schools achieve the recommend 60 minutes of daily physical activity for students. Daily activity helps to decrease obesity which is a part of the prevention chapter in the WI CCC Plan.

Enforcement of the smoke-free air law
WCC fully supported the passage of the smoke-free air law, and continues to support its enforcement. The smoke-free air law decreases tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. Decreased use of tobacco and exposure to tobacco smoke is a part of the prevention chapter in the WI CCC Plan.

Equal access to chemotherapy treatment - oral drug chemotherapy
WCC joined the Wisconsin Coalition for Cancer Treatment Access to advocate for insurance coverage of oral drug chemotherapy. Increase access to quality cancer care is a priority in the treatment chapter of the WI CCC Plan.

Funding for the WI Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
In order to continue support for decreasing tobacco use in WI, WCC supports funding for the WI Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. The WI Tobacco Prevention and Control Program decreasing the use of tobacco in which is part of the prevention chapter of the WI CCC Plan.

State funding for cancer prevention and control
State funding for cancer prevention and control helps to maintain the WI Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, and the development and implementation of the WI CCC Plan.

State funding for the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System
The Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System is severely underfunded. Cancer statistics are used for research to provide new insights into how cancer could be prevented and treated in the future. WCC supports increasing the state funding of WCRS. It is a priority in the data collection and reporting chapter in the WI CCC Plan.

Committees

Click below to be linked to the WI Cancer Council's committees related to Public Policy and Advocacy:

Public Policy and Advocacy Updates

Wisconsin Cancer Council Cancer Briefing provides overview of cancer control efforts in Wisconsin.

On May 5, 2011, the Wisconsin Cancer Council hosted a briefing in the State Capitol building about the impact of cancer in Wisconsin, cancer research, cancer survivorship, cancer risk factors and costs, and cancer prevention in the community. Physicians, researchers, and health professionals presented on these topics and answered questions from about 50 audience members of legislators, legislative staff, and interested community members. Packets were available for audience members with detailed information about the state of cancer in Wisconsin. Additionally, packets with legislative district specific cancer facts were delivered to legislative offices. This successful event provided an opportunity to educate legislators and legislative staff about Wisconsin's Cancer Council, the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and Plan. Click here for the agenda. You can also review the power point presentations (PDF format):

Impact of Cancer in Wisconsin - Nathan Jones, PhD

Panel: Cancer Research in Wisconsin - Looking Forward
Richard Ellis, MD
George Wilding, MD

Risk Factors and Costs - Mark Wegner, MD

Cancer Prevention in the Community - Doug Mormann, MS