University of Wisconsin-Extension Human Development Institute

06/21/2026

🎉 Happy Father's Day: Registration is NOW OPEN! 🎉

TODAY is the first day to register for Fathers in Focus 2026 — Extension’s FREE annual conference that brings together fathers, mentors, coaches, advocates, and allies from across Wisconsin.

✨ All are welcome!

Join us on October 10 for a day of meaningful conversations, workshops, networking, and community focused on strengthening families and supporting fatherhood.

📝 Register today and learn more: go.wisc.edu/fathers
We can’t wait to see you there!

We're proud to collaborate with Madison College and Madison Schools - MMSD.

06/19/2026

🚨 Final Week of Rent Smart—Don't Miss Out!

Don’t miss your chance to learn the essentials for a successful renting experience with this FREE six-session Rent Smart course.

🏠 Understand your rights as a tenant
🤝 Learn how to build a positive relationship with your landlord
📈 Start building a strong rental history

📅 June 9-24
🗓 Tuesdays & Wednesdays
⏰ 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Take the first step toward renting smart! ✨

‼️Grab your last chance to sign up! https://go.wisc.edu/yy8ebf

Still deciding? Click here to learn more about the course: https://finances.extension.wisc.edu/programs/rent-smart/

06/12/2026

Child care providers, join us for Emotion Regulation in Action: Science-Based Strategies for Early Childhood — A two-part virtual workshop created for you! All are welcome.

You can earn five WI Registry Continuing Education Credits when you join us virtually on Zoom, Thursdays July 23 and July 30 from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Register here to reserve your spot! https://go.wisc.edu/eceworkshops

Help young children manage big feelings — join the UW–Madison Extension & Thriving Wisconsin for a hands-on virtual workshop
with science-based strategies and practical tools you can use every day!

✅ Learn key building blocks of emotional development
✅ Build skills to help children manage their feelings
✅ Problem-solve with peers about common challenges
✅ Discover support available through Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]>

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in
compliance with state and federal law. To register and request accessibility services, visit: https://go.wisc.edu/eceworkshops

Registration fee: $20. Participants must attend both sessions for WI Registry Credit.

06/12/2026

📣 Registration for Fathers in Focus opens in ONE WEEK!

💡Join fathers, mentors, coaches, advocates, and allies from across Wisconsin for a FREE day of connection, learning, and community-building centered around fatherhood 🫱🏿‍🫲🏽 All are welcome.

📅 Oct. 10, 2026
📌 Madison College Truax Campus

📝 Registration opens Father’s Day — June 21!

Whether you’re a father, family advocate, community leader, or someone passionate about supporting strong families, you’re welcome at this year’s conference.

❓Learn more: go.wisc.edu/fathers

Get ready to register next week!

06/11/2026

👏 Congratulations to our own Luisa Gerasimo, Senior Human Development and Relationships Educator in Dunn County, who has been named a Distinguished Educator by UW–Madison!

🏅 The distinguished title recognizes extensive experience, advanced skills and knowledge, reputation and remarkable contributions to the profession.

Luisa’s many noteworthy accomplishments include:

⭐ Leading and co-leading the Dunn County Housing Action Team. This alliance came out of the Community Health Improvement Plan via the Dunn County Health Department in 2019. She has invested in this group because having a safe and affordable place to live is foundational to family wellness. 🏡

⭐ Growing The Literacy Link program’s “Making Reading Memories” in the local jail to record numbers over the course of the last four years in partnership with the Dunn County Jail Program Director, Heather Pyka. 📚

⭐ Consistently contributing to multiple state teams and marketing classes and resources to the region, resulting in local residents and service providers regularly taking advantage of educational programming. 🙌

⭐ Serving on boards like the United Way St. Croix & Red Cedar Valleys , where she helped create and launch a Day of Caring which now attracts hundreds of volunteers to serve local nonprofits, a value added of close to $17,000. 💗

🫶 Luisa, who has been a part of Extension since 2018, finds motivation in her work by relating to the families she supports.

"My family of origin had its own set of stressors: we moved a LOT, we struggled financially, our parents got divorced, and we also had love and found joy” she said. “When I work with local families, it is easy to feel motivated to help. Today's families are more stressed than ever, and society needs to do a better job centering our policies and energy on what families need to thrive."

🎆 Congratulations, Luisa, on your well-deserved recognition as a distinguished HDR educator. Thank you for your efforts and energy in our institute, in Dunn County and across the state!

Extension Dunn County UW Extension Health Dunn Right

06/10/2026

We recently enjoyed a presentation from Families Outside chief executive Dr. Nancy Loucks, all the way from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

💡 Learn how HDRI's The Literacy Link program is supporting children and families much like the Scottish government does in the story at the link! 👇

UW Extension UW-Madison School of Human Ecology Extension Milwaukee County

A UW–Extension program creates kid-friendly spaces in correctional institutions where families can visit, which supports their well-being as it does in Scotland, according to Dr. Nancy Loucks, chief executive of a a national nonprofit in Scotland that works on behalf of families affected by impris...

06/10/2026

Nearly 90,000 children in Wisconsin experience the effects of parental incarceration, yet many families have limited support systems to help maintain those important relationships.

One local initiative is working to change that. The Literacy Link at Dane County Jail gives incarcerated parents the opportunity to video record themselves reading storybooks for their children at home. While the distance may be physical, the program helps preserve emotional connection in a meaningful way.

The impact has already reached nearly 100 parents and 250 children, helping reduce separation trauma, strengthen family bonds, and increase parental confidence.

Programs like this remind us that supporting children also means supporting the relationships and connections that matter to them. What role do you think communities can play in helping families stay connected during difficult circumstances?

06/08/2026

Get your summer off to a good start! Join us noon-1 pm., Tuesday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 23, for the Helping Children Develop Healthy Screentime Habits.

This two-part series for parents of children 3-10 years will help you help you:

-Set reasonable screentime limits
-Understand why problems happen
-Prevent issues
-Teach healthy screen habits
-manage conflict over screens
-Keep your child safe online

Learn more about this two-part series and register on our website: https://ashland.extension.wisc.edu/2026/05/27/helping-children-develop-healthy-screentime-habits-triple-p-two-part-series/

06/05/2026

Are you a case manager, social worker or other helping professional who needs the skills to help clients build lasting change in managing their finances? 💵

If so, this online workshop is for you! 🧑‍🏫

UW-Extension’s Financial Coaching Foundations Workshop is back for Summer 2026! It’s a class designed for professionals who want practical, client-centered coaching tools.

✨ In this interactive 5-session workshop, you’ll:

-Practice foundational coaching skills for deeper listening and impactful questions.
-Apply proven strategies for achieving goals and lasting behavior change.
Develop techniques for increasing client motivation.
-Apply the A|4 Coaching Model during in-class coaching sessions.

📅 August 6, 10, 13, 17 and 20
🖥️ Online via Zoom
⏰ 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT

Help your clients build stronger financial habits and lasting change through effective coaching skills 🔥

💰Registration Fee: $325
🔗Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/4uur25
⚠️Registration closes July 30 — or earlier if the class fills up!

06/01/2026

🚨 FREE Getting Out of Debt Workshop TOMORROW!

Discover how to prioritize and pay off your debt effectively in this first Money Matters Live class.

📂 Gain the tools to decide the best order to pay your debt, ways to clear your past due balances and build a strong financial plan.

📅 June 2
⏰ 10-11 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join either workshop!
Don’t miss it! 💡

🔗 Sign up today at https://go.wisc.edu/laotd2