Who Will Benefit From the Project?

The target group that will benefit are the presently unaccessed, adult Native learners residing in the Toronto area. We have determined that a vast number of learners not presently accessing Native literacy programs, are, for the most part, not accessing the community at large - i.e., they do not utilize the services of Aboriginal organizations in the downtown core (which is where Aboriginal organizations reside in the Toronto area). The recruitment of these new adult learners to literacy programs will produce an additional learner benefit in that literacy programs will provide an opportunity for more cohesive integration into the community at large. In addition, various stakeholders in the Native community will also benefit as a result of an integrated system of outreach access and assessment. These could include training programs, our funding base, community and service agencies, employment agencies, and the Native community.

This project’s aim is to guide the development of a strategy for the coordination of culturally appropriate Native literacy services in Toronto. Its purpose is to:

• enhance coordination, articulation, and transition between Native literacy programs and other community stakeholders;
• support the development of partnerships in developing and delivering Native literacy services; and
• improve the definition and availability of distinct Native literacy programming throughout Toronto.

These goals will be achieved through the following key objectives:

• conduct a comprehensive literacy needs assessment of and report on the Native population in Toronto;
• facilitate focus groups and appropriate community meetings on Native literacy in Toronto and record the results;
• identify the gaps, overlaps, and priorities in the development of Native literacy outreach, referral, and access services, assessment and delivery models, partnerships, and coordination of efforts and resources including the coordination of the five LBS services;
• develop a vision for Native literacy service delivery in Toronto, to be drafted into the MTML Literacy Services Planning process, and build in processes to ensure implementation and evaluation of the strategy;
• develop and circulate a five-year strategy for coordinated Native literacy services; and
• address in a positive manner the territorial challenges associated with splintered funding issues.

This project report should not be considered an evaluation of any of the Native literacy programs mentioned. Our hope was to find ways to enhance the coordination of Native literacy programs and bring about partnerships that would benefit Native learners wherever they are in the city. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that implementing the recommendations will enhance a learner’s access to Native learning opportunities.