Dunn County extension presents parenting, literacy and volunteer initiatives to committee

Luisa Gerasimo, family educator for Extension in Dunn County, told the Community Resources and Tourism Committee that her office runs parenting education, literacy efforts and local volunteer projects that aim to connect families with evidence-based resources.

Gerasimo said the Extension runs court-ordered parenting classes, workshops for new and expectant parents, and local literacy programs, and highlighted a statewide virtual conference that drew more than 800 participants. "I'm a family educator for extension in Dunn County," she said, then explained the longer title she uses for formal materials. She quoted a keynote, saying, "there's no app to replace your lap," to underscore the program's emphasis on in-person reading and interaction.

The presentation put program details up front: the Extension offers a 6-week "Raising a Thinking Child" series, a required co-parenting course often taken by people referred through the courts, and a jail-based program called Making Reading Memories that practices interactive reading and recording for incarcerated parents. Gerasimo told the committee that about 90% of people in the jail-based class had never taken a parenting class before.

Gerasimo described new outreach tools: a set of one-page "Just in Time Parenting" handouts and audio recordings in multiple languages, which the statewide Extension team plans to roll out nationally in April. She said the local team has recorded readable audio for pages 1–4 and hired a Spanish reader where necessary. The materials are available through the Extension's redesigned site by age group.

To increase access to books, Extension placed a donated book bin in the remodeled Human Services waiting area (between Vet Services and Birth-to-3 services). Gerasimo said the public library and other partners will replenish donations and that the bin has moved a large number of books into family hands.

Gerasimo also described the return of a United Way Day of Caring after a multi-year gap. She said about 150 volunteers participated in morning projects and that organizers estimated the donated labor at roughly $16,000 based on nonprofit valuation guidelines. She read two thank-you notes from beneficiaries, including the Dunn County Historical Society and the Center for Independent Living, describing tangible repairs and cleanup that volunteers completed.

Committee members praised the outreach and attendance numbers: Gerasimo said Dunn County often ranks in the top four counties statewide for participation in Extension classes, noting both in-person and online offerings. She closed by stressing that the Extension provides quick, evidence-backed referrals for parents seeking help with everyday challenges.

Questions from supervisors ranged from program details to examples of age-appropriate books; Gerasimo said staff and volunteers help select books and coach caregivers that it is "okay to screw up" while reading and to keep the interaction going.

Gerasimo left the meeting for a concurrent United Way board meeting after her presentation and the committee moved on to other agenda items.