What is the function of the advisory committee? Initially, it is to guide, develop, and implement a community needs assessment, if one has not already been done to determine the need for a family literacy project in the community. Based on the needs assessment findings, the advisory committee will develop a set of objectives for the program, and an action plan which will guide its development and delivery.

Beyond the initial stages of planning and developing the family literacy program, the advisory committee also provides on-going support to the program and plays a lead role in promotion and recruitment. The advisory committee will also be responsible for developing assessment and evaluation strategies for the program. Members may also be involved in fundraising.

Developing a shared vision and goals
After the advisory committee is formed, the first task is to develop a shared vision for the partnership and to identify short-term goals for the group. Not only will a shared vision and goals help to group move forward and set parameters for their efforts, but as Kadel and Routh (1993) point out, it will enable members to justify spending time on the committee.

In their discussion of how to develop and implement collaborative services, Kadel and Routh recommend that members focus on what is best for children and families as they develop a shared vision for the partnership. Successful partnerships are characterized by a vision that encompasses a family-centred approach, a preventative focus, comprehensive services, and flexibility (124).

Goals for the partnership will initially be short-term and should focus on developing the partnership and taking the preliminary steps in developing the family literacy program. Examples of short-term goals could include establishing leadership for the group; developing a common definition of key terms, such as "family," "community," "at-risk," and "family literacy"; developing communication mechanisms and meeting schedules; and deciding how activities and objectives will be measured. As the project progresses, intermediate and long-term goals can be set based on the information gathered in the needs assessment, and decisions made on how to best address those needs.