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Parenting & Family Relationships
UW-Extension offers resources to strengthen communities by providing:
- Parent education and support – to help parents be their best in this challenging and rewarding role
- Relationship education – to help individuals develop essential skills for strong interpersonal relationships, including communication, problem solving, self-control, self-care and stress management.
- Aging Well – Teaches skills for later life including financial preparation, health & well being and engagement for our aging population and their caregivers.
Douglas County Early Childhood Resources
Find contacts to Disability Services, Early Childhood & Family Education, Behavior Services in this Resource Guide
Looking for Online Parenting Classes?
Join us! Learn the best of what science can offer parents and families and choose what works for you. We offer classes about child and family development, including parenting. Attend in-person or online. All of our classes are research-based, non-formal and available to the public. All are free or low cost.
Questions? Email us
Positive Parenting Program – Triple P
Positive Parenting Program: Workshops provide parents of children ages 0 – 12 and teens with a toolbox of strategies to raise confident and healthy children, build strong family relationships, manage misbehavior, and prevent problems from happening in the first place. Participate virtually from the comfort of your own home and walk away with more knowledge and confidence as a parent!
0-12 Triple P
These Triple P – Positive Parenting Program seminars and discussion groups will provide parents of children ages 0-12 with a toolbox of strategies to raise confident and healthy children, build strong family relationships, manage misbehavior, and prevent problems from happening in the first place.
Participate virtually from the comfort of your own home and walk away with more knowledge and confidence as a parent! Attend any or all of the classes at no cost to you.
Triple P Teen for parents of Teens 12-16 years old
Are you looking to raise confident, healthy teens? Do you want to build strong relationships with your teens? This virtual class is for you! Come fill your toolbox with strategies to make parenting easier and more joyful.
Triple P Family Transitions
This class is for parents who are experiencing personal distress from separation or divorce, which is impacting their parenting.
Check the statewide calendar for upcoming class times.
Triple P Fear-Less
Does your child (6-14 years old) have moderate to high levels of anxiety that causes significant distress or impact on their everyday functioning? This program aims to help parents develop a toolbox of strategies and choose the most effective to respond to their child’s anxiety.
Focus on Fathers
Focus on Fathers is a free monthly online lunch-and-learn series, designed for dads, and is open to all parents and caregivers. Strengthen family bonds, support your child’s emotional growth, and connect with others navigating the joys and challenges of parenting today.
Meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month:
- September 8: Fathers Teach Children to be Good Citizens
- October 13: Fathers Teach Perseverance
- November 10: Fathers Teach Children about Social Cues
Resilient Co-Parenting
A series of topic-specific classes for parents or caregivers raising children together while living apart. Join us for any or all of the sessions.
Classes are held from 7-8 p.m. monthly via Zoom on the first Thursday of the Month. Click below to see the class topics and to register.
Circle of Security Parenting
For parents of children birth to 5 years
At times all parents feel lost or without a clue about what our child might need from us. Imagine what it might feel like if you were able to make sense of what your child was really asking from you.
The Circle of Security Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened.
Questions? Contact Bayfield Educator Heidi Ungrodt at heidi.ungrodt@wisc.edu.
Just In Time Parenting Newsletter
Finding reliable parenting information and advice on the web can be overwhelming! How do you know what you can trust — especially when you are busy and there’s just so little time?
Just in Time Parenting is a free parenting newsletter that is delivered by email and specific to a child’s age and needs. We also can mail paper copies to Douglas County residents if you prefer. They are designed so that information that’s relevant to your family is automatically delivered to you just in time!
CLICK HERE to sign up for the either the paper or electronic newsletter.
Each issue includes:
- Easy to use guides on how your child is developing
- Tips on raising a healthy, happy child
- Tools for solving common parenting problems
- Strategies for coping with the challenges of raising children
Parent Further Website this website for families from the Search Institute offers resources on discipline, relationships, media and more.
Home Alone
This webpage is for parents and their children who are getting ready to stay home alone. Parents and children should watch the videos together and use the short activities after each video to discuss your plans to stay safe. Visit out website to learn more.
The Strong Couples Program
Having a strong relationship with your romantic partner can be hard. And when you need help, finding trustworthy support can be difficult. The Strong Couples Program can help.
The Strong Couples Program is:
- Six self-paced online modules. Topics include communication, commitment, problem-solving, and fun and friendship.
- Five brief video calls with a trained coach.
The Strong Couples Program is free! You can start any time.
This program is for couples together six months or longer in all life stages. This educational program is NOT counseling. The program teaches couples to use tools that improve their relationship.
Planning Ahead
Planning AHEAD is an end-of-life planning curriculum for all ages developed by UW–Madison Division of Extension faculty and staff. This 7-session research-based program will help participants understand how to prepare for the end of life for themselves or a loved one, and why it’s important to have a plan in place.
*This program and workbook were designed for residents in Wisconsin and is specific to Wisconsin law. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, please refer to your state’s laws around Advanced Medical and Legal Directives, and Estate Planning.
Check the statewide calendar for upcoming virtual classes.