Adults and Children participating in TalkReadPlay programming has increased annually since 2022 thanks to the increase in participation in TalkReadPlay events and programs by existing partners, and also the onboarding of additional partners in this work in 2023 and more structured data collection in 2024. 

Contributing Factors:

• Increasing programming availability.
• Bilingual programming offerings.
• Addition of area libraries as local partners.

Limiting Factors:

• Programming available only at local libraries, which limits the community engagement. 

Empowering caregivers* to be their child’s first and most important teacher helps create strong, positive and nurturing relationships. 90% of brain development happens in the first 5 years of life. Caring, responsive interactions between children and the adults in their lives are the building blocks for early brain development.  

TalkReadPlay (TRP) is a community movement designed  to strengthen families by promoting Early Relational Health, or the emotional wellbeing that grows from the positive connection between children and their caregivers.

*The Foundation uses the shorthand term caregivers to refer to any individual who may be involved in raising a child.

Education, Early Care, Human Services, Public Health, Health Care, WIC, Libraries, Faith Communities

Data is based on aggregate program participation of adults and children (all ages up to 17) numbers collected from GWCHF community TalkReadPlay partners, and does NOT reflect unique individuals. 

2022 data includes  Watertown Family Connections, Lake Mills Clinic, Jefferson County Birth to Three, and the following public libraries: Watertown, Johnson Creek, Reeseville and Waterloo. 

2023 data includes  Watertown Family Connections, Lake Mills Clinic, Jefferson County Birth to Three, and the following public libraries: Watertown, Johnson Creek, Hustisford, Jefferson, Reeseville and Waterloo. 

2024 data includes Jefferson County Birth to Three, and the following public libraries: Watertown, Johnson Creek, Hustisford, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Juneau, Lake Mills and Waterloo.