Strengthening Systems So Children Can Thrive

Thriving Wisconsin Member Network:

Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs)

A Note from the Director
Network Activities
Thriving Wisconsin's NEW Website
Family Friendly Workplace Designation
Thriving Wisconsin videos coming soon
2025 WI FRC Impact Report
2025 WI FRC Core Services Report
DHS Vaccination Resource
Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Funding Opportunity
Partners in Advocacy Update
Family Support Activities
FRC Of Quality Accreditation

Governor Evers Visits FRC
Lieutenant Governor visits FRC
New FRC ROI Study
Watertown Family Connections PIWI Groups
Free Triple POnline Parenting Courses
CCR&R Supports & Services
CCR&R Training Data
Tribal Conference Hayward
Collaboration with Whitewater, 4C
CCR&R Network Training
Upcoming CCR&R Training
Upcoming FRC Training
Thriving Wisconsin Marketing
Staff & Board Members

A Note from Thriving Wisconsin's Executive Director

As we close out another budget season, I am filled with gratitude for the dedication and collaboration that makes our work possible. Thriving Wisconsin has been proud to work alongside the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, United Way of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health, our member FRCs and CCR&Rs, and many other partners to strengthen support for children, families, and early care and education providers across the state to ensure every child in Wisconsin has the opportunity to thrive. The 2025-2027 State Budget recognizes that early childhood isn’t defined by a single program or policy, but rather as a complex and interconnected system. Lasting systemic change rarely happens all at once - it builds gradually, step by step, through sustained effort and collaboration. While additional investments in early childhood remain essential, this budget lays a strong foundation for coordinated action and reflects the real momentum shaped by years of dedicated advocacy. We are deeply grateful to the Partners in Advocacy coalition, as well as the countless advocates, parents, and child care providers whose voices and commitment have made this progress possible. This moment is proof that meaningful change can, and does, happen when we work together - even as there is more work ahead.

Alongside these advocacy successes, we’ve celebrated exciting milestones of our own. Thriving Wisconsin recently earned the Family Friendly Workplace designation, a recognition of our commitment to supporting our team while modeling a workplace that values balance, flexibility, and wellbeing. We also launched our new website, providing a welcoming and accessible space for families and professionals to connect with resources, tools, and updates. More details about each of those milestones is featured in this newsletter.

Looking ahead, we are eager to expand the impact of our work. We are preparing to launch an innovative research project on delivering evidence-based professional development in ways that are practical, accessible, and feasible for early care and education providers. We will also be scaling up our current Child Care Resource & Referral supports to build broader access to high-quality child care across Wisconsin. By growing and sustaining the early care and education workforce, we aim to ensure that more families can find the care they need and deserve.

These achievements are possible because of the incredible network of partners, providers, and families we work alongside. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We couldn’t do it without you, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together next.

Check out Our New Website!

We’re thrilled to announce that Thriving Wisconsin’s new website is now live! While we’re still putting the finishing touches on a few pages, we invite you to explore the fresh new look and improved features at thrivingwi.org.

Important: If you have any links saved or shared from our old site, please update them to reflect the new URL.

Thriving Wisconsin Receives Family Friendly Workplace Gold Designation

This prestigious distinction recognizes our commitment to nurturing an inclusive, supportive, and flexible work environment—because we believe strong families are the foundation of thriving communities, and that starts with supporting our own team. Through policies like flexible work arrangements, parental leave, and employee well-being initiatives, we empower our staff to thrive both personally and professionally—and to bring their best to the work of supporting Wisconsin’s families.

What Gold certification means for Thriving Wisconsin:

Exemplary family-friendly policies—from flexible schedules and generous time-off to benefits that support family friendly caregiver practices.
A boost to recruitment and retention by aligning with our values and signaling that we truly live them.

A heartfelt thank-you to our board of directors and every team member whose commitment to well-being, balance, and community contributed to earning this milestone. Here's to raising the bar—together.

Learn more about the Family Friendly Workplace Certification here

Lights, Camera, Action at Thriving Wisconsin

Thriving Wisconsin is excited to give you a sneak peek at what we've been working on! Our team has been in the "studio" filming new video segments that highlight the impact of Thriving Wisconsin and shine a spotlight on the vital work of our CCR&R and Family Resource Center (FRC) Network Members.

Stay tuned, these inspiring stories will be ready to share soon!

The 2025 Wisconsin FRC Impact Report is Here!

Thriving Wisconsin is proud to share the latest FRC Impact report, showcasing the incredible work of Family Resource Centers (FRCs) across Wisconsin in strengthening families and communities! A few highlights from the report:

Reach & Impact

7,000+ families served in 2024
FRCs operate in 72% of counties and 64% of First Nations/Tribes
Services focus on families with children birth to age 8

Core Services

Parenting support, resource navigation, child development, community engagement, and parent leadership

Funding & Sustainability

79% of FRC funding come from local sources
FRCs manage up to 25 funding contracts
Federal and State sources provide $1.5M

Staffing & Budgets

Most FRCs operate with 3–7 staff with a budget between $100k–$500k
New funding formula supports sustainable growth

To explore how FRCs are making a difference, read the full report here

2025 Wisconsin FRC Core Services Report

Thriving Wisconsin is excited to share the newly released Family Resource Center Core Services Report from the Wisconsin Family Resource Center Network—highlighting the essential work FRCs do to support families across the state.

Key Highlights from the FRC Core Services report:

Parenting Support Programs make up 62% of FRC budgets, offering everything from playgroups to evidence-based education and home visiting, these programs form the heart of FRC services.
Resource & Navigation Support (14%) includes helping families meet basic needs with access to diapers, food, hygiene items, and referrals—over 393,000 diapers distributed statewide!
Child Development Activities (13%) help children thrive through screenings, classes, and safety programs.
Community Engagement (8%) and Parent Leadership (5%) empower families to shape their communities and advocate for what matters most.

Family Resource Centers more than service providers—they're community builders, connectors, and champions for family well-being.

Read the full 2025 FRC Network Core Services Report here to learn more about the impact FRCs are making across Wisconsin!

Vaccination Resources for Families

Vaccination is the best way to protect children from getting sick from many diseases like measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, and more. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has resources available to help parents learn more about important childhood vaccines as well as programs to provide access to vaccines.

Vaccines for Children

The Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) provides vaccines at no cost to eligible families. For more information on eligibility and to find a VFC provider, please visit the DHS VFC web page or find information on the VFC program flyer.

Get the facts about vaccines

It can be hard for parents to find reliable and accurate information about vaccines online. The DHS Get the Facts About Vaccines web page is a great place for parents to find more information about the importance and safety of childhood vaccines. For more information on the diseases that vaccines can protect against, parents can visit the DHS Vaccine Preventable Disease web page.

Measles Resources:

Find out if your family is up to date on vaccines

The Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) allows Wisconsin parents and guardians of children to view their vaccine records and keep track of which vaccines they need. Find out more information about accessing vaccination records on the WIR Information for Parents fact sheet.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) is awarding funding to reimburse entities for costs associated with participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information and to apply visit here

Funding Opportunity: Strengthening Families Through Books and Concrete Supports

The Celebrate Children Foundation (Foundation) is offering a grant opportunity focused on strengthening Wisconsin families through books and concrete supports. This competitive grant opportunity will offer funding to entities interested in either or both of the following initiatives:

Building brains and bonds with books: Research has shown that having books in the home can boost child literacy. In addition to increasing literacy, when caregivers read to children it boosts the caregiver-child connection, builds protective factors, and helps foster healthy child development.
Concrete supports: Research has shown economic and concrete supports help families address basic needs and create safer environments for children to thrive. There is also emerging evidence that the effects of economic and concrete supports reduce the risk for child maltreatment.

Visit their website to review the grant application, timeline, funding amount and other requirements here.

Partners in Advocacy Update

Federal Advocacy Update: Big Win For Family Resource Centers

The Senate Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS) Committee has included language supporting Family Resource Centers in its Fiscal Year 2026 Committee report.

The Committee recognizes the vital role FRCs play- offering parenting support mental health services, learning learning, job support, and more. Research shows 63% reduction in child abuse cases and a $4.93 return for every tax dollar invested.

By including FRCs in federal language, the LHHS Committee supports States that choose to use a portion of their SSBG funding to support services and programs at Family Resource Centers to strengthen families through a localized, family-centered approach.

The inclusion of this language is a testament to the impact of our collective work and the strength of our shared efforts. Thank you for everything you do to serve families and for your ongoing partnership in advancing these priorities.

We look forward to continuing to work together as the appropriations process moves forward and will keep you updated on any further developments.

The see the specific text, go to page 216 in this document.

Family Support Updates

Congratulations! Three FRCs for Earning their Family Resource Center of Quality Accreditation!

Thriving Wisconsin is excited to announce that three FRC members have earned their Accreditation as a Family Resource Center of Quality, this past quarter.

The dedicated teams at Lakeland Family Resource Center, River Source Family Center and Indianhead Community Action Agency, worked hard to intentionally incorporate strategies to achieve this recognition.

To date, thirteen Family Resource Centers that have earned this prestigious recognition.

To learn more about the Family Resource Center of Quality Accreditation and who is accredited, visit here.

Governor Evers Visits Family Resource Center of St. Croix Valley

Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley had the honor of welcoming Governor Tony Evers for a visit to see firsthand the incredible work they do to support families.

The Governor toured the center, met their dedicated staff, and learned how FRC St. Croix Valley—and Family Resource Centers across Wisconsin—strengthen families and build stronger communities.

Leaders also shared an urgent funding concern: FRC funding was not included in the biennial budget. Governor Evers listened closely and engaged in a meaningful conversation about how to ensure critical resources reach the families who need them most.

Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and Senator Jeff Smith Visit River Source Family Center

River Source Family Center recently welcomed Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and Senator Jeff Smith for a meaningful visit focused on the center’s vital work in the Chippewa Falls community. During their time at the center, they learned about the wide range of programming and resources offered to support families.

Despite facing limited funding, River Source has remained resilient—adapting its services to continue providing critical support. The preventive work carried out by organizations like River Source plays a foundational role in promoting the well-being of families and strengthening communities.

FRC Return-on-Investment Study Published in Family Justice Journal

The official publication of the Teller County, Colorado Family Resource Center (CP-FRC) Social Return on Investment (SROI) study is now live in the Summer 2025 issue of the Family Justice Journal!

This marks a major milestone in advancing the evidence base for Family Resource Centers and their impact. The article, co-authored by the National Family Support Network partners and research collaborators, starts on page 12 of the journal.

Key Findings:

A 292% return on investment: For every $1 invested in the CP-FRC, the county child welfare system saved $2.92.
A 62.84% reduction in substantiated child maltreatment cases in one year, translating to 51 fewer cases in 2018 compared to 2015.
Services were delivered through a partnership model where the county referred screened-out families for voluntary support—offering help before formal child welfare involvement.
The FRC reached nearly 100% of the county’s children most at risk of maltreatment through trusted, community-based supports.
This case study strengthens the national case for investing in Family Resource Centers—especially in rural counties where child welfare risks are often higher and access to services more limited.

Watertown Family Connections PIWI Play Groups: Building Connection Through Play

PIWI (Parents Interacting with Infants) Play Groups are designed to support both infants and their caregivers through intentional, developmentally-focused play. Grounded in the PIWI model, each play group is a small, consistent cohort of no more than six parent-infant pairs, meeting weekly over a multi-week series.

In 2025, Watertown Family Connections hosted two separate PIWI series: a 4-week series in February and a 3-week series in May. Both took place on Saturday mornings from 9:30–11:00 AM. Our February sessions included four parent-infant pairs who attended all sessions, while our May series welcomed five families—three returning and two new.

Each session includes a brief circle time with a Hello song, shared book, and introductions to six themed play activities. Themes have included Laugh Out Loud (tickle games, fingerplays, peek-a-boo), Music & Movement (scarves, handheld instruments, and a floor piano), Sensory Exploration (water play, sound tubes, light and texture activities), and Friendly Faces (social-emotional learning with puppets, mirror play, and emotion cards). Parents are invited to reflect on what their babies might enjoy and observe how their children engage with each activity. Each session ends with snack time and parent discussion—an opportunity to revisit those predictions and share resources.

PIWI Play Groups are ideal for infants ages 6 to 18 months. In February, the groups focused on infants 6–12 months; the May series served infants 12–18 months. Each child attends with a parent or caregiver—ideally the same one each time—to foster consistency. However, we also welcomed flexibility, including families where both parents alternated attendance.

Parents appreciated the dedicated one-on-one time with their babies, especially those with older children. First-time parents valued the chance to connect with others navigating the same stage of early parenting. Many reported leaving with new, enriching play ideas to try at home. Infants benefitted from hands-on exploration, exposure to new materials, and opportunities to observe and mimic developmental milestones like crawling, standing, and walking.

These play groups were made possible through a partnership with the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WIAIMH), which provided training, in-person support, and reflective follow-up. We’re especially grateful for the support of Jill Van Sickle, who brought insight and encouragement through her affiliation with WIAIMH and the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation. Funding was provided by the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, allowing them to provide this meaningful experience to families in our community.

FREE Online Parenting Courses!

Through funding from the Department of Children and Families, Children's Wisconsin is offering FREE online Triple P parenting courses to all Wisconsin parents/caregivers! Over 4,755 individuals have benefited from these free parenting supports, which have courses covering the following topic areas:

Triple P Baby
Triple P for parents of children 0-12
Triple P Teen
Triple P Fear-less (for children experiencing anxiety)

To learn more or to request access to the free online program visit here

Early Care & Education

Spring Tribal Conference

This past quarter, Northwest Connection Family Resources held the Spring Tribal Conference with 111 participants in attendance. The conference provided a rich exploration of diverse topics, emphasizing culturally relevant teaching methods and hands-on activities.

Participants engaged in meaningful experiences, including learning about the significance of traditional dreamcatchers and creating their own. This immersive day fostered a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage and practical skills.

4C's Collaboration with Whitewater Early Childhood Education Center

4C's collaborates with the Whitewater Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Center—an initiative made possible by a $10 million private donation. This project aims to expand access to high-quality early childhood education in the greater Whitewater area, with an anticipated opening in 2026. The initiative is designed to support working families and strengthen the overall vitality of the community.

As part of the planning phase, the group conducted surveys with local businesses, households, and child care providers to assess the region’s child care needs. 4C's had already gathered much of the necessary data and was able to share the findings with the group to help them proceed to the next phase.

4C's will continue to support and collaborate with this committee as the planning and implementation process continues.

CCR&R Network Training Webpage!

The Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Upcoming Trainings webpage provides a list of trainings available through the CCR&R Network. This list gives providers options for taking trainings that work with their schedule.

Information on Delivery Method (In-Person, Virtual, Online, or Blended), Agency offering the training, and Start and End Date of the training are included in the list.

Check out CCR&R Upcoming Trainings

Providers can view a full list the following trainings:

Child Care Foundational Trainings (Introduction to the Child Care Profession, Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care, Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher, and Fundamentals of Family Child Care).
Health and Safety (Abusive Head Trauma Prevention with Mandated Reporter, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Reduction, Pediatric First Aid, and Infant and Child CPR with AED).
Wisconsin Pyramid Model (8 Part Series, Infant/Toddler 8 Part Series, e-Modules with Reflective Coaching - Birth to 5, and e-Modules with Reflective Coaching - Preschool).
Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards
Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education with Mandated Reporter
Other (Basic Heath and Safety Topics, Onboarding New Staff, Understanding Regulatory Requirements, and Supervising Children).

Note: The upcoming training events listed on this page are not an exclusive list. To find more trainings, visit your local CCR&R's training calendar by clicking on their logo at the bottom of the webpage.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming FRC Professional Development Training

Play Group Best Practices (September 18th and 25th)
Bringing The Protective Factors Framework to Life In Your Work (September, October, November)
Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support

(October 1 & 2)

Click here to register and learn more about each offering and information for how to register.