National Literacy Secretariat - Project Funding 2002-2003 (Alberta)

(01.04/02 - 31.07/02)

Ms. Lois Polege
LITERACY COORDINATORS OF ALBERTA
56 Holt Street
Red deer,ALBERTA
T4N6A6
(403) 348-5200

Violence and Learning: Taking Action

Literacy Coordinators of Alberta (an organization responsible for literacy research and practitioner training in Alberta), in partnership with the Learning Centre Literacy Association in Edmonton, will engage programs in exploring the impact of violence on learning, and assist practitioners in improving the effectiveness of their intervention and learning strategies. The project will build on existing research and practice; document the impact of violence on learning; identify resources to support learners; and integrate research findings into the practice and delivery of literacy services. The project will be implemented in four phases. In phase 1, project staff will establish the foundation for the research. In phase 2 they will involve approximately 20 practitioners in the research. In phase 3, pairs of practitioners will undertake a "Changing Practice" initiative to address the impact of violence within the context of individual programs. Finally, in phase 4, practitioners will complete their research reports and present them at the Provincial Literacy Conference, and within their own programs and meetings of literacy coordinators. Support for practitioners will be provided during the project through online courses and four face-to-face workshops. An evaluator will be contracted to plan and implement project evaluation in consultation with project staff, participants and the advisory committee.

Mr. John Meston
TERRA ASSOCIATION
9930 - 106 Street
Edmonton,ALBERTA
T5K1C7
Tel. (780) 428-3772

Family Literacy - Teen Parent Resources

Based on research findings from a Needs Assessment Study and as a follow-up to their very successful family literacy pilot projects, Terra Association, an Edmonton-based organization that has been serving young parents for over 30 years, will initiate six new strategies to improve literacy levels among out-of-school teen parents. The Association, with direction from the Centre for Family Literacy, will pilot family literacy models such as "Storysacks" and "Building Blocks" to provide parents with a variety of tools and strategies to encourage literacy-related activities within the family. It will develop program manuals on "Bookmobile" and "Literacy Related Crafts" models to assist family literacy providers in the development and delivery of these models. It will produce a manual to accompany the "Read to Your Baby" video - a tool that has proven very successful in providing valuable information on child development to teen parents. Finally, Terra Association will contact the Louise Dean Centre to develop linkages and explore possibilities for setting up family literacy initiatives for out-of-school teen parents in Calgary. The project will be evaluated by a consultant through regular reports presented to the Advisory Committee.

(01.08/02 - 30.11/02)

Ms. Marnie Schaetti
ALBERTA ASSOCIATION FOR ADULT LITERACY
332 - 6th Avenue South East Suite 605
Calgary, ALBERTA
T2G 4S6
Tel. (403) 297-4994

Literacy: A Blueprint for Tomorrow - A Joint Training Initiative for Literacy in Alberta

The Calgary Needs Assessment Project, Phase 2

Alberta Association for Adult Literacy (AAAL), established in 1979, is the provincial literacy coalition that promotes literacy through developing partnerships, raising awareness, providing training support, and assisting adults in accessing learning opportunities. Phase 1 of the research initiative defined the parameters of the needs assessment, identified stakeholders, and designed and developed an implementation plan for the assessment. Phase 2 will employ a multi-dimensional approach to determine the current and future demand for literacy services in Calgary; identify the capacity of service providers in the city; highlight barriers to participation; conduct a comparative analysis of alternative delivery structures for literacy providers in metropolitan areas; and develop an action plan proposing strategies and recommendations to address identified gaps. To achieve these objectives, AAAL, in partnership with the Calgary Community Adult Learning Association (C-CALA), will construct a profile of low literacy populations based on Canada Census data, the Labour Force Survey, the City of Calgary Census 2000, and other population studies; conduct interviews and follow-up surveys of literacy service providers; organize client focus groups; hold planning workshops; develop strategic directions and a plan of action; and compile all findings into a comprehensive report for submission to key stakeholders. The project will be evaluated through participant feedback, and its success will be determined by the number of partnerships developed and their commitment to the implementation of report findings and recommendations.

Circle of Information - Literacy Help Line of Alberta 2002-2003

The Alberta Association for Adult Literacy (AAAL), established in 1979, is the provincial literacy coalition that represents many sectors of the literacy community, and assists adults in accessing learning opportunities through its toll-free Help Line. Based on findings from an evaluation report, AAAL will collect information from referral database, telephone log database and the call-back database to enhance the Help Line's ability to provide callers with accurate information more efficiently and effectively. In order to achieve this, a Help Line Manager will strengthen ties with organizations and services on the referral database; promote awareness of the Help Line throughout Alberta; collaborate with other literacy organizations; participate in regional trade fairs and conferences; and work with the Centre for Family Literacy to ensure that all family literacy programs are listed in their database. In addition, AAAL will implement a more rigorous call-back procedure; expand the distribution of promotional materials; and visit literacy programs in selected communities. An external evaluator will design a standard set of questions to be used during call-backs; identify and select criteria for database; and assist AAAL staff in the writing of the final report.

Widening the Net - Alberta Computer Midiated Communication Project

Points of Connection Literacy Help Line of Alberta (Supplement)

DESCRIPTION (Original): Alberta Association for Adult Literacy (AAAL) will provide information and referral and respond to inquiries regarding literacy services in Alberta through a toll free Help Line. In addition, AAAL will update their database through a survey of literacy programs and resources in the province; promote the Help Line through effective media coverage and phone book listings; set up displays at events; and expand information and referral services within the deaf and hard of hearing community. To do this, AAAL will respond to approximately 2000 inquiries through the year, keep accurate records of calls, update its database, provide plain language advertising, and increase the visibility of the Help Line in rural Alberta. The project will be evaluated by an external evaluator to determine its impact and effectiveness. DESCRIPTION (SUPPLEMENT): Alberta Association for Adult Literacy, with assistance from the Centre for Family Literacy and the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD), will complete their Help Line database survey for adult and family literacy, and ensure that the database is user-friendly. In addition, recommendations will be drawn up to suggest the most efficient and cost-effective means of updating the database in the future.

Literacy: A Blueprint for Tomorrow - A Joint Training Initiative for Literacy in Alberta (Supplement)

Alberta Association for Adult Literacy (AAAL) is the provincial literacy coalition that promotes literacy through developing partnerships, raising awareness, providing training support, and assisting adults in accessing learning opportunities. AAAL will add to their current project, which consists of hosting a three-day training conference called "A Blueprint for Tomorrow" in partnership with the Literacy Coordinators of Alberta, by bringing 16 students and 19 tutors to the conference. Approximately 350 to 400 participants representing a broad spectrum of interests in the field of literacy will attend the conference, which will include a stream of workshops designed to be of special interest to family literacy practitioners, volunteers, and adult literacy students; and will provide a forum for the launch of AAAL's new Literacy Student Speakers' Bureau. The project will be evaluated by an external evaluator with direction from the Steering Committee and project coordinator. The final report will include recommendations and an analysis of all new Conference initiatives and workshop streams.

Ms. Sharon Carry
BOW VALLEY COLLEGE
332 - 6th Avenue South East
Calgary, ALBERTA
T2G 4S6
Tel. (403) 410-1440

Connecting Literacy to Community

Building on the very successful first phase of this project, Bow Valley College will undertake a second phase of "Connecting Literacy to Communities" in three rural - High River, Olds, Pincher Creek/Crowsnest Pass - and three urban - Bowness, Huntington Hills and Victoria Park/Inglewood/Ramsey - communities. Literacy Specialists will work in each community to provide literacy awareness and promotion. They will work with, and support community agencies, service providers and businesses to respond to the literacy needs of the community through development of literacy programming, workshops, Literacy Audits, and partnership building to sustain services developed. The project will be evaluated through the collection of data and statistics on the activities, the response from each community, and solicited feedback of partners.

Ms. Candice Jackson
LITERACY COORDINATORS OF ALBERTA
56 Holt Street
Red deer, ALBERTA
T4N 6A6
Tel. (403) 348-5200

Building a Provincial Literacy Resource Centre

Literacy Coordinators of Alberta (LCA) is an organization that has been providing support for literacy research and practitioner training in Alberta since 1986. In response to needs expressed by literacy coordinators serving both rural and urban populations in the province, LCA will provide access to ten traveling trunks with resources on adult literacy including learning disabilities, family literacy, program administration, and tutor training. In addition, LCA will increase access to a web-based catalogue of resources; arrange displays; deliver promotional presentations at training sessions and the Provincial Literacy Conference; acquire new materials; review resources; develop an electronic forum on FirstClass - a literacy electronic network; write regular columns on new resources in LCA's newsletter "Word Ways"; and maintain a bibliographic database. The project will be evaluated through inquiry records, a phone survey, and user feedback.

(01.12/02 - 31.03/03)

Mrs. Maureen Sanders
CENTRE FOR FAMILY LITERACY SOCIETY OF ALBERTA
201 - 11456 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, ALBERTA
T5K 0M1
Tel. (780) 421-7323

Building Capacity: Communications and Promotion in Family Literacy

The Centre for Family Literacy Society of Alberta will undertake a project to develop and implement a plan for family literacy promotion, awareness and support. The objectives of the project are to raise public awareness of family literacy to a new level throughout Alberta, increase support of family literacy in the private and public sectors and update the promotional materials of the Centre in order to provide relevant information about the Centre and its range of services. The Centre will work with Literacy Alberta to develop high profile Family Literacy Day events to be held in Edmonton and Calgary and involve current government, corporate and community partners. These events will heighten public awareness about family literacy and provide literacy coordinators in large and small communities with a model they can follow to organize similar events. A report detailing the planning for the Family Literacy Day events will be shared with groups across the country. The Centre will also develop a communications plan and promotional materials to promote the excellence of the Centre and the key role of family literacy in the development of families. Materials will include brochures, information folders, display boards, photos, a promotional video about the services of the Centre and re-developed website. These materials will be used to promote family literacy and the work of the Centre at meetings, conferences, presentations and other public events. The Centre will also provide support and advice to regional initiatives for implementing Foundational Training for Family Literacy across the country. The project will be evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively and a final report will be submitted to the NLS.

Ms. Maureen Sanders
CENTRE FOR FAMILY LITERACY SOCIETY OF ALBERTA
201 - 11456 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton,ALBERTA
T5K0M1
Tel. (780) 421-7323

Access to Professional Development for Family Literacy Practitioners in Alberta

The Centre for Family Literacy Society of Alberta will provide support to practitioners attending two family literacy professional development events offered by the Centre. This project will increase access to Foundational Training and Models Training for family literacy practitioners, literacy practitioners interested in adding family literacy to their programs and workers from other sectors (health, justice, social services) interested in integrating family literacy into their services by offering travel subsidies. This will enable family literacy practitioners and interested others to access professional development that otherwise might not be able to attend. The training sessions, supported by Alberta Learning, address the growing need for family literacy professional development in Alberta and will provide practitioners with knowledge of the basis of family literacy as well as in specific models. This will increase the number of trained family literacy practitioners in the province. The Centre will evaluate the project through feedback from the training events and a final report will be submitted to the NLS.

Mr. Bill Persley
PORTAGE COLLEGE
Box 417
La Biche,ALBERTA
T0A2C0
Tel. (780) 623-5526

Aboriginal Workforce Capacity Expansion Project

Portage College and Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, along with community and Aboriginal partners and with the support of the National Literacy Secretariat and Alberta Human Resources and Employment are undertaking a two year pilot project designed to increase Aboriginal participation within the resource-based industries in northeastern Alberta. The project will address the essential skills for the wide range of occupations across resource-based industries and provide educational upgrading, job training and employment readiness for Aboriginal people. An Advisory Committee of representatives from the Metis Nation of Alberta, First Nations, industry and Portage College will guide the project. An essential skills profile for the Alberta-Pacific Forest industries will be completed. Training materials and curriculum incorporating HRDC's occupational profiles, workplace-specific essential skills profiles, existing upgrading curriculum and Aboriginal and corporate culture will be developed. The project will pilot a new method of integrating and delivering academic, employability and occupational skills drawing on the strong connections between the College and the industry. It will incorporate a learner-support model including counselling assistance, cultural supports such as sharing circles and Elder visits, and transitional supports. A database will be created to track an individual's transition from training to employment or further training. The project will be evaluated by Portage College's Research Department and the results will be published.

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