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When families of children with disabilities and special health care needs are at the decision-making table, programs are improved and more accessible. Resources and services are created by the people making decisions; Parents can be meaningful contributors to shaping the systems that support their children and others.
Family Voices of Wisconsin developed the Wisconsin Family Leadership Institute (WiFLI) for parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. Our goal is that every WiFLI participant gains the skills and confidence to be at the table when decisions are made in the community: serving on community advisory groups (like at the library, school, recreation programs, or medical clinic) to county or state boards or committees. Parents can also share their experiences with systems, to advocate to their legislators for real solutions.
We offer WiFLI as a continuous opportunity. This allows you to start where your experience level is now and build your leadership skills to reach far beyond—and we’ll be there to support you every step of the way.
This series of virtual learning sessions is intended to sharpen your skills and offer new insights into advocacy opportunities that are available all around us. Each session is packed with speakers, exercises, discussion and planning for your own advocacy. This makes it important for you to commit to all six sessions with the other members of your group. If this is a problem, or if you have any questions, please contact danielle@fvofwi.org.
These sessions are provided at no cost to Wisconsin families through Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs funding.
Presenter: Danielle Tolzmann
Wednesday, September 24, 6:00pm
We’ll start with a discussion on why it’s important for families to be at the table when the programs and systems that support our kids are crafted, and we’ll explore some of the ways family leaders can be good collaborators in this process. (60 – 90 min)
Presenter: Lynn Breedlove
Wednesday, October 8, 6:30pm
We introduce Servant Leadership, which prioritizes the well-being of the group and stay focused on shared goals. We’ll explore the 12 characteristics of this leadership style and look at some real-world examples of how it can be applied in group and advocacy settings. (60 – 90 min)
Presenter: Savannah Bertrand
Thursday, October 23, 6:00pm
This parent recognized that a program in her community could serve families better, so she stepped forward to advocate for improvements. She’ll share what she learned about systems change advocacy, partnering with others, and finding resilience. (60 min)
Presenter: Jeff Spitzer-Resnick
Tuesday, November 11, 6:00pm
This experienced legislative advocate will explain the steps to tackling a legislative issue, including sponsorship, the role of media, and practical tips for legislative meetings. (60 – 90 min)
Presenter: Danielle Tolzmann
Thursday, December 4, 6:00pm
Pulling together the themes from our Community Advocacy and Legislative Strategy sessions, we’ll walk through the steps of creating your own advocacy plan. Who might you partner with and how can you find them? What to do first? Who are your allies? After this session, you’ll have a plan! (90 min)
January 2026 (date and time yet to be scheduled)
Sometimes advocacy succeeds, and other times it doesn’t lead to the outcome we hoped for. When that happens, how can advocates keep going? Join us for this panel of advocates!
This series provides the building blocks to successfully extend the advocacy you are already doing to reach beyond your own family, affecting the systems, programs, and services you interact with every day. From Telling your Story workshops to understanding how Boards and Committees work, we’ll get you started on your family leadership journey.
Participation in WiFLI Foundations includes registration to our Advocacy for Change.
September 24, 6:00pm (60 – 90 min)
Introduction to WiFLI & Your Voice Matters
October 8, 6:30pm (60 – 90 min)
Servant Leadership
October 23, 6:00pm (60 min)
Community Advocacy
November 11, 6:00pm (60 – 90 min)
Legislative Strategy
December 4, 6:00pm (90 min)
Strategic Thinking about Advocacy
January 2026 (time and date yet to be scheduled)
Advocacy Resilience Panel
