Madison, Wisconsin. Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin will host Together We Can Light the Path on February 18, 2026, from 10 am to 11 am in the North Hearing Room at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
The event will bring together lawmakers and statewide partners to recognize legislative leadership, deepen understanding of key child safety issues, and highlight the impact of recent child protection legislation across Wisconsin.
Program highlights include:
2025 Torchbearer Award
Honoring legislators who have shown exceptional commitment to strengthening policies that protect children and supporting the statewide network of Child Advocacy Centers.
Understanding Pediatric Strangulation, Protecting Children Through Knowledge
The Wisconsin Department of Justice will lead a critical presentation on pediatric strangulation and its impact on child safety. Drawing from recent data on cases referred to Wisconsin’s Child Advocacy Centers for forensic interviews, the session will explore the prevalence of strangulation among children, key risk factors, and how improved screening practices can strengthen identification and response efforts. The findings underscore the medical severity and long-term risks associated with strangulation and highlight the importance of informed public policy that reflects the unique vulnerabilities of children.
Impact of Recent State Policy Action on Child Advocacy Centers
Child Advocacy Centers will share how recent state policy and funding has improved statewide child protection efforts.
Members of the press, legislative teams, and community partners are invited to attend.
Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin works to enhance the state’s response to child maltreatment by providing leadership, training, and expanded access to child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary team services.
For more information, please contact Karyn van Heijningen, Executive Director director@cacsofwi.org
