F.L.A.G. will also continue to support family literacy through collecting and distributing information on programs and issues, and promoting family literacy in a range of forums.

B. Using the Practical Guide

The practical guide is intended as a resource book. It has been organized according to the process involved in developing an understanding of family literacy and initiating or building a program. Each section or chapter of the guide corresponds to the individual steps that make up this process, with examples from provincial, national, or international programs used to illustrate those concepts. Examples are usually arranged in order of relevance, moving from the experiences and developments found in Alberta programs to the more general level of programs outside the province. The exception to this is the section on the history of family literacy, where information moves from the older, more established international programs and developments to the relatively new Alberta scenario.

In addition to the Table of Contents found at the beginning of the guide, there is an itemized list of contents at the beginning of each chapter to provide you with an overview and assist you In locating information.

The scope of this guide has been limited by time and resources. Although of no less importance than English family literacy, initiatives in Aboriginal, Francophone, and first language family literacy are under-represented. As family literacy continues to grow in Alberta and Canada, so will the development of information-sharing and support processes. Dialogue between all types of family literacy projects is essential.

The sources of data for this Publication include: program reports; surveys, books and articles; personal communication with family literacy practitioners; conference and institute presentations; and National Literacy Secretariat records.

The guide has been published in a binder to accommodate future research. In our second year, F.L.A.G. is going to be developing materials, resources, and workshops on community collaborations and evaluation processes. Publishing in this format will also allow for updates on programs and practices in Alberta.