Family Engagement & Relationships
Family Engagement and Relationships (FER)
The Family Engagement and Relationships (FER) program at Dane County Extension provides well-researched, high quality educational programs about parenting and family relationships to help support positive child growth and development and individual personal and professional growth and development. We teach individuals and work with families serving agencies from all walks of life to ensure our programs help families overcome challenges, promote strong social ties, build community capacity, and support family stability.
Our Classes
Teaching Children About Emotions is a two-part series workshop focusing on the importance of socioemotional development and learning a variety of strategies to support and manage your child’s emotions and feelings—the good and the bad ones!
Raising Wisconsin’s Children is virtual and is for all types of parents and caregivers who are caring for kids. Participants will gain all sort of knowledge each month to support child’s growth and development. All sessions are on the 3rd Thursdays of each month from 1-2 pm.
RENT Smart consists of 6 modules that challenges participants to know and understand their rights and responsibilities as a tenant and learn common financial and rental practices to help the individual successfully have a positive rental history and long-term housing stability.
Resources
Additional UW-Extension Resources
Home Alone
Is your child ready for self-care? As children grow more independent, parents begin to consider the possibility of having them stay home alone rather than being cared for by others. This can be a rewarding experience for children and parents, but only if the children are ready and prepared.
Extension Dane County offers an online program that educates parents and their children on readiness for self-care, home alone plans, safety, and alleviating fear and boredom when children are home alone.
Visit our Home Alone online program (Español) for more information. Parents and children should complete this entire program together.
Just in Time Parenting (JITP)
JITP is a free evidence-based parenting newsletter that is delivered via email and provides age-specific parenting information. Each newsletter offers practical tips and insights tailored to the child’s developmental stage, making it easier for families to navigate the challenges and milestones of the specific child age. Newsletters are available in English and Spanish.
UW-Madison is one of the many land-grant universities supporting this newsletter project and have also developed one-pager condensed newsletters that is available in English, Spanish, and Hmong. More information can be found on their website.
Talking About Race
Many parents are asking how they can talk to their children about race. The most important advice is to realize that parents can influence their children and provide the reassurance and information that is appropriate for their development. Below are some resources and tips parents can refer to:
- How to Talk to Your Children About Race (CNN)
- Talking to Kids About Race (Video) (Division of Extension)
- 10 Tips for Talking to Kids About Race (Embrace Race)
There are more parenting and caregiver classes online and statewide! View our online calendar to find a virtual session that’s right for you.
Local Community Resources for Families
Professional Development Opportunities
Professional development events and opportunities:
- Fit and Healthy Kids Series: Early Childhood Educators provide professionals affordable, research-based, educational programs and resources. Information in each program is based on research from faculty right here in Nebraska. The goal is to empower all adults who care for young children by providing high-quality professional development that sets the stage for lifelong learning, discovery, and success. Classes are all virtual and topics varies each month. To learn more and/or register for a Fit & Healthy Kids class, CLICK HERE.
Dane County Organizations
4-C
Community-Coordinated Child Care, Inc. (4-C) is part of a network of accredited, non-profit Wisconsin Child Care Resource and Referral agencies providing advocacy and support services for child care around Southern Wisconsin counties.
Babies & Beyond of WI, Inc.
Babies & Beyond is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization supporting Madison-area families since 1982. All of their programs are free of charge to women, men, and families.
Just Dane
JustDane is private, 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that offers an array of direct service programs for individuals and families involved in the criminal justice system. These services include prison reentry programs and services for children who have an incarcerated parent, community events designed to help people understand what it’s like to walk in the shoes of someone newly released from prison, and jail and prison in-reach programs.
Urban League of Greater Madison
The Urban League of Greater Madison provides resources and support for African Americans and other community members around education and employment and empowers individuals to live well, advance professionally, and contribute to the common good in the 21st Century.
UW-Madison Office of Childcare and Family Resource (OCCFR)
The Office of Child Care and Family Resources provides support and family resources for parents and returning UW parenting students.
Waisman Center
The Waisman Center is dedicated to advancing knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases through research, training, services, and outreach for UW-Madison and the community.
Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Program
The WIC Program works to improve the health of women, infants, and children who may be nutritionally at risk by providing healthy foods, health information, and referrals to health care and community resources.
Justice Involved Re-Entry Ready Resources at UW-Extension
Anywhere Dads Podcast
A podcast about parenting for fathers who are incarcerated and their families from UW-Madison Division of Extension.
Re-entry Ready Resources
Transitioning and re-entering the community can be difficult for individuals and families. This provides a variety of tips and resources you can use when re-entering back into the community.
Sesame Street
Activities, videos, and information for children and families impacted by the incarceration of a loved one.
Dane County Resources Guide
This guide provides various resources throughout Dane County that may be helpful for those re-entering or just looking for more resources in the community. All information gathered in this guide was found via online searches or contacts who are connected to the resources.
Are you interested in learning more about our programs? Or want to partner with us?
Contact Staff
Kula Yang, Family Relationships and Finance Educator (Hmong Bilingual)
UW-Madison, Division of Extension, Dane County Extension
5201 Fen Oak Drive, Suite 138, Madison, WI
kula.yang@wisc.edu | yang.kula@danecounty.gov
Phone: 608-224-3700
