The next step suggested by Cypress Hills is to research literacy activities that would work well in your region, and follow that by hosting an interagency meeting with potential stakeholders. You would present the literacy awareness package at this meeting and discuss any concerns arising from the group. Schedule a follow-up meeting with those interested in forming a partnership, and ask those participants to consider the specific needs that exist in their organizations.

The final stage suggested by Cypress Hills Is to organize the Partnership meeting. "Encourage individuals to express their literacy needs, and/or offer a service, but be prepared to suggest activities [roles] as the partners may look to you for guidance." (Banks 1994)

D. Developing an Action Plan

Once the advisory committee has been established, the first task it faces is to set objectives for itself and to plan actions and activities to achieve those objectives.

Because the foundation of the family literacy project is still being built, the advisory committee will not be able to develop long-term goals or objectives at this point. These will be formed after the preliminary work of setting a framework for the project, gathering information on the needs and resources in the community, and exploring possible means of meeting those needs.

In order to develop objectives for the advisory committee, a framework must be established that not only gives a general direction for the project (delivering a family literacy program), but that also integrates the goals and interests of participating individuals and organizations (Alary 172).

The overall objective of the committee will be to identify the need for a family literacy project in the community and how best to address that need. In addition to that objective, specific objectives of individual committee members might include the desire to promote literacy as an issue related to employment or health, or to develop a process where family literacy supports and complements the work of preschool and primary school educators, family and social service providers, etc. Such individual goals and concerns must be articulated within the group and built into the overall objectives (Alary 172).