Further Education Society of Alberta (FESA)

What we do

The four arms of FESA

Our organization's goal is two-fold: to continue to promote literacy in Canadian Society and to enhance parenting skills, so that every person in Canada can reach his or her full potential. To achieve this goal we have streamlined our efforts into three four key areas: research and curriculum development, training and leadership, community outreach and development and family literacy programming.

In cooperation with grassroots community agencies, we respond to the learning needs of high-risk groups. Challenges that these learners face include: poverty, abuse, low-literacy, single-parenting, recent immigration, lack of support systems, unemployment, learning disabilities, addictions, unfamiliarity with community resources and/or formalized systems.

Research

Approximately 42% of Canadians have problems dealing with printed materials according to Statistics Canada. Our research has led us to develop programs and curriculums that target the specific needs of participants in their daily lives. Research is the backbone of our organization and the reason for our success.

Extensive research and experience with our target learner group over our sixteen year history has helped us to understand their needs. Our expertise led us to develop Literacy and Parenting Skills (LAPS) curricula and adapt it to meet regional needs in different communities across Canada. We have now designed curricula specific to aboriginal learners, new Canadians, francophone learners, families who have struggled with domestic violence, and for male learners. We developed our LAPS program after low literate learners expressed their concerns to us about their parenting skills and their children’s literacy. A powerful motivator for these learners is their wish to do what is in best interests of their children. Therefore our LAPS research and curriculum evolved based on the needs and concerns that were relevant to parents. Now that we have facilitators trained in a number of provinces, LAPS is available through participating communities across primarily western Canada. A main component of LAPS development is its ability to be shared among communities all over Canada. We have a strong desire to continue sharing this curriculum so other agencies might better be able to assist our targeted learners. FESA continues to research emerging needs and develop educational opportunities that will break the cycle of low literacy.

For more information on the research projects listed below or to order any of the material, click on the project name, visit our Research page or Contact Us.

LAPS program manuals	So Where Are the Males: Introducing ESL males to language and literacy development
LAPS-ESL Supplements 1-8	Parenting After Family Violence
Grandir avec mon enfant	LAPS-Path to Learning video
Parent-Child Interactive LAPS	A-LAPS-Expanding horizons video
LAPS for Teens	Grandir avec mon enfant video
Paths: A community response to ESL language and literacy development

Training & Leadership

Facilitators and trainers work all across Canada so that FESA's reach is truly nationwide. These training programs also help us to fulfill our goal of spreading awareness about the value of family literacy in Canada and building community literacy resources. We have trained over 2000 facilitators across Canada to deliver the LAPS program.

For more information on the training programs listed below please visit our Training page or click here.

LAPS: Mainstream: Train the Trainer, Facilitator Training and Support	A-LAPS: Train the Trainer, Facilitator Training and Support
LAPS-ESL: Train the Trainer, Facilitator Training and Support	Grandir avec mon enfant: Train the Trainer, Facilitator and Support
LAPS National Office	LAPS Advanced Training

Partnership Building and Community Development Work:

Community development and partnering is part of each aim of our work. Nationally, provincially and locally we work to facilitate strong, sustainable partnerships with agencies across Canada. FESA has a long tradition in partnership building and community development work. Over the years we have worked in partnership with literacy coalitions, cultural groups, family literacy organizations, and school boards, just to name a few. We work in partnership to develop relevant, meaningful and affordable curricula, quality, well-respected facilitator training and through joint advocacy efforts to bring a voice to the concerns and needs of low-literate learners across Canada. In our Calgary program, we partner with social and community agencies to minimize costs, support learners, and strengthen programs.

Calgary Programming

Our Calgary Community Family Literacy Program (CCFLP) partners with over 35 community agencies to deliver 70-80 programs per year to approximately 800 Calgary families. Our facilitators deliver welcoming educational programs at locations where learners already live or access services. All programs are free of charge to participants. Agency partners register clients, offer important support with counselling or basic needs, and offer in-kind contributions such as child care, consumables, or children’s books.

Learners participate in one or more of our continuum of four program models, LAPS, Parent-Child Mother Goose, Homespun, and Books for Babies /Jumpstart. This depends on the ages and stages of their children and their own particular literacy and parenting needs. All program models are designed to help parents build their children’s literacy.

We have developed our programs to specifically address the needs of low-literate learners. Our programs take a less structured, competency-based approach which provides learners with a more comfortable and relaxed setting. We are unique in providing a “first-step” educational opportunity for learners who are intimidated by formal education, lack confidence, or are unable to afford transportation or childcare to attend programs outside of their communities.

For more information on any of the programs listed, click on the program name or Contact Us. You can also visit our Programs page.