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In the St. Croix Valley, a quiet revolution is underway—one bedtime story, lullaby and belly laugh at a time.
The Little Moments Count initiative, grounded in neuroscience, emphasizes the importance of playing, reading, singing and talking with young children during their first 1,000 days—the most critical window for brain development.
In 2024, with support from the St. Croix Valley Foundation’s First Thousand Days Fund, the initiative launched locally, adapting lessons from the Twin Cities to meet the unique needs of rural communities. Three key partners received grant funding to lead the work: Family Friendly Workplaces, Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley and HealthPartners’ Lakeview Hospital. Together, they’ve built a cross-sector council of over 20 partners, hosted community events, distributed educational materials and featured local family stories on the Little Moments Count podcast.
Bill and Rita Lawson of Somerset, Wisconsin, established the First Thousand Days Fund in 2022 to spark bold, early investments in children and families. Their vision has inspired others and helped bring this movement to life.
Lori Schaefer is the director of marketing and communication at the St. Croix Valley Foundation. Learn more about the Little Moments Count Campaign at littlemomentscount.org and scvfoundation.org.
