The evolution of LAPS in the community

by Ann McLean

By working closely with Calgary’s Women in Need organization LAPS was able to reach these mothers.

The Literacy and Parenting Skills (LAPS) program continues to do what it does best—provide a well-rounded and engaging parenting program to those who have difficulty reading and writing. Sounds simple enough! However, the process is a bit more complicated than it sounds. First, we need to appreciate that many of the parents we are hoping to involve may have had negative experiences within a traditional learning environment. Imagine what it would be like if you were struggling with reading and writing and you found yourself in a course where you were asked to read material, or to fill out a questionnaire, or even worse, to read something aloud. Obviously we needed to rethink how to reach these parents. LAPS, the result of a partnership between Further Education Society of Alberta and Bow Valley College, was developed keeping this very issue in mind. Our LAPS program is offered in partnership with agencies or organizations who are in the community and who have established a relationship with families.

The Women in Need organization is a wonderful example of how this collaborative process can work. They were providing a drop-in centre within low cost housing projects. They identified a need for parenting courses and were aware that many of their clients also had challenges with literacy. We took LAPS to the parents. By working synergistically with the WIN organization, we were able to adapt the program so it fit their particular needs. Not only did the participants gain valuable parenting information they also became comfortable within a learning environment. Slowly, patiently, as literacy activities were introduced, many of them began to improve their reading and writing skills and some even went on to further education opportunities. We continue our involvement with this very worthwhile organization. There are also parents who are struggling with English as a second language who may feel terribly isolated. It was with these folks in mind that the LAPSESL program was developed. Again we sought to work with agencies or organizations who were already serving that population.

Evolution of LAPS... CONTINUED ON PAGE 2