by Sharon Skage and Adele Thomas

The Family Literacy Dissemination Project was conceived of as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate projects that have supported the literacy development of families across Canada. Although the number of family literacy initiatives, and interest in those initiatives, has grown dramatically over the last decade, there are still few opportunities to share information about strategies, resources, and experiences that can be adapted to suit local community needs. The Family Literacy Dissemination Project has attempted to improve communication about family literacy practice in Canada by two means: the production of a directory of family literacy initiatives and the development of a set of case studies that represent the range of family literacy approaches in different communities across Canada.

In developing Family Connections: 1998 Directory of Family Literacy Projects, we attempted to systematically locate and request project information from a wide range of community organizations across the country. In our experience there has been an increase in interagency collaboration and blending of literacy with our family services, such as health centres and family resource programs. Thus our criteria for consideration as a family literacy project was broad to encourage participation by organizations which might not ordinarily view themselves as literacy service providers.

Through a telephone/fax and mail campaign, approximately 350 community organizations were contacted. These organizations include a range of literacy groups and government agencies that were information sources for locating family literacy projects, or conducted family literacy initiatives as part of their services. Letters were mailed to project coordinators of community organizations and to literacy practitioners, explaining our purpose and plans.

The Directory presents an extensive overview of on-going family literacy initiatives across the country. Summaries of individual projects, listed by province, include details on resources for practitioners and learners. Project descriptions also contain contact information to facilitate practitioner networking. There are separate listings for national organizations that have developed family literacy initiatives. A section is included to index family materials, workshop information, and other resources created by various projects. The introduction to the Directory also includes a rationale for family literacy, a historical overview, an examination of current issues in family literacy practice, and a summary of trends observed in reported projects.

Family Literacy in Canada: Profiles of Effective Practice brings together a sample of family literacy programs that represents the range of family literacy approaches in different communities across Canada. The volume is written in the many voices of practitioners who have been closely involved in the establishment and maintenance of family literacy programs. These practitioners have taken time to reflect on the nature of their work with families and the challenges they and their program participants have encountered.

An advisory panel of family literacy practitioners representing a broad base of geographic regions and cultural communities established criteria for selecting programs for the case studies, and identified a pool of possible programs from which final selections could be made. Twelve programs from eight provinces are included in the volume. In addition to discussion about the early development of programs and aspects of working with families, all practitioner-writers have sought to provide analysis and reflection on aspects of the community context for family literacy, the nature of obstacles faced, as well as suggestions and strategies for maintaining family literacy programs. A chapter is also included to address some of the broader issues which face family literacy practitioners, by focusing on some relevant historical background on the family literacy movement, definitions of family literacy, and research on families and literacy and family literacy intervention.

It is hoped that the documents produced in the Family Literacy Dissemination Project will foster further dialogue about family literacy practice and encourage discussion about future directions of family literacy in Canada. The project has clearly demonstrated that the different approaches presented have provided significant benefits to families and communities. At the same time, the reflections and experiences of practitioners indicate that many issues related to family literacy practice have yet to be adequately recognized or systematically investigated. The environment for family literacy is positive and optimistic for the future, just as the parents we work with are hopeful for their children’s futures.

The Family Literacy Dissemination Project was funded by the National Literacy Secretariat of Human Resources Development Canada. The project was coordinated by Adele Thomas, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education at Brock University. Ronna Jackson was Research/Editorial Assistant, and Sharon Skage was Co-Editor of the directory of family literacy projects. For more information on the Family Literacy Dissemination Project, contact Adele Thomas at (905) 688-5550, extension 3937.

All organizations listed in the directory will receive a copy of both documents. Remaining copies are available from:
Brock University Bookstore
500 Glenridge Ave.
St. Catherines, ON L2S 3A1
Tel: (905) 688-5550 Ext. 4402

Family Connections: is published with combined English/French translation. Since Family Literacy in Canada comes in separate English and French versions, requests to the Bookstore should stipulate which version you wish to order. The two documents will also be available through the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) Website.

Adele Thomas is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education of Brock University where she teaches preservice teacher education courses. In addition to her interests in family literacy and early childhood teacher education, she has helped to develop the Family Learning Program of the Niagara District School Board.

Sharon Skage has worked in the field of literacy since 1989. She helped to develop the Family Reading Program in Red Deer, Alberta, and developed resource materials for the Family Literacy Action Group during its three years of operations. She is currently involved in establishing a provincial family literacy centre in Alberta.

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