Dunn County extension highlights parenting, literacy and volunteer programs; educator says “there’s no app to replace your lap”

Luisa Gerasimo, family educator for UW Extension in Dunn County, told the Community Resources and Tourism Committee that county extension programs reached thousands in 2024 and continue to emphasize hands‑on literacy and parenting support.

Gerasimo said Extension held a free statewide virtual conference, Raising Wisconsin’s Children, with more than 800 participants and that several local programs focus on skills parents can use immediately. "There's no app to replace your lap," she told the committee, summarizing her argument that human interaction is central to early language development.

The presentation outlined several continuing programs: Parents Forever (the court‑ordered co‑parenting class used in custody and divorce proceedings), a jail‑based program called Making Reading Memories that models interactive reading for incarcerated parents, monthly and multiweek parenting classes and new one‑page parenting resources scheduled for a national rollout in April. Gerasimo said about 90% of participants in the jail program had never taken a parenting class before.

Committee members were given printed packets and bookmarks linking to age‑based resources hosted on the statewide Extension website. Gerasimo said the state‑level one‑pager materials were trusted by participants and that about 95% of survey respondents rate them as trustworthy. She explained the materials include audio in multiple languages and are meant for parents who are short on time or have limited reading ability.

Gerasimo also described local volunteer efforts tied to the United Way merger that created the United Way of St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys. She said organizers revived the Day of Caring after a multi‑year pause; about 150 volunteers performed projects the group estimated as roughly $16,000 in volunteer labor value based on standard nonprofit valuations. She shared thank‑you notes from the Dunn County Historical Society and a local Center for Independent Living client who said volunteers cleared a basement the client had been unable to manage for 20 years.

Other items Gerasimo described included a donated book bin placed near Human Services waiting areas (staff and the public library will maintain donations and restocking) and in‑county training she provides, such as RealColors temperament workshops for county departments.

Gerasimo closed by noting Extension in Dunn County continues to run many free classes (she said the county is typically among the top four counties in the state for attendance) and that staff take calls from residents seeking quick, evidence‑based parenting advice rather than social media tips.

Questions from supervisors followed the presentation; Gerasimo left for a United Way board meeting after concluding her report.