NIFL Community Literacy Summit 2007

1. NIFLCommunity Literacy Summit 2007 March 19, 2007

2. Health Care Center -based Sites Hartford Job Corps Unions Human Service Organizations Community Based Organizations Post-Secondary Schools and Colleges PUBLIC SCHOOLS Faith-based Sites Correctional Facilities Family Resource Centers Adult Basic Education Programs Libraries Family Centers Job Training Programs Diagram of Service Delivery Sites Programs for Adults (16 and older) Community Literacy

3. A Call to Action:Everyone Has a Role in Improving Literacy • Literacy enhancement must be a priority • Low literacy is the common thread connecting our nation’s challenges • Leadership is needed at all levels

4. Assumptions • The scope of the problem is greater than any one organization • The scope of the literacy problem is beyond any one literacy organization • The scope of the literacy problem is beyond literacy

5. Assumptions • The issues of literacy are intertwined with the issues of poverty and racism. • Efforts employed to improve literacy become efforts to improve social justice.

6. Assumptions • We know what needs to be done • We have the resources • The divideis getting larger • A paradigm shift is needed • A power shift is needed

7. Assumptions • It’s all about political and economic power • Learners • Literacy providers • Political leaders • Funders

8. Long-Term Solutions • State Government • Federal Government • Partnerships with the private sector

9. Greater Hartford Literacy Council • Formed in 2001 as an outgrowth of City Task Force • Strategic partners • City of Hartford • Hartford Public Schools • Hartford Public Library • Capital Workforce Partners • Hartford Foundation for Public Giving • More than 100 members • Literacy providers • Human service organizations • Businesses • Government • Individuals Greater Hartford Literacy Council

10. Hartford Demographics2000 Census • Population 124,387 (2003) • Latino 40% • Black 38% • White 22% • Language other than English 47% • Below poverty 31% • Median income $24,820 • Homeownership 25%

11. Below Level 3 Literacy(NALS 1993)

12. The Situation • Critical number of residents with low literacy skills • Much about literacy assets and needs is unknown • Fragmented network of literacy services throughout the region • Yankee individualism- collaboration is an unnatural act between two or more consenting or non-consenting adults

13. Regional Assessment of Literacy Needs and AssetsCommunity Literacy Enhancement Across the Region(CLEAR) Joining forces as a region to address low literacy

14. Goals • To develop a coordinated, well-integrated system of effective, high-quality literacy services across the region • To strengthen providers of literacy services • To strengthen the systems that deliver literacy services

15. CLEAR Partners • United Way of the Capital Area • Capital Region Education Council (LEA) • Capital Workforce Partners (WIB)

16. Impact of the Initiative • An accurate snapshot of present situation from which to measure progress • Community-wide involvement • Enhanced capacity of providers • Meaningful partnerships created • Systemic change leading to policy and funding reforms

17. Oversight Committee • Comprised of 20 key organizations • Role is to advise and coordinate the CLEAR initiative • Supported by GHLC staff and consultant(s)

18. Assets and Needs Assessment Demographic data Existing reports Provider survey Focus groups Task Forces ESOL Learners w/ Disabilities Workplace Health Child, Youth, Adult, & Family Funding and Policy Data Collection

19. Survey of Literacy Providers • 69 organizations throughout the region were asked to complete an on-line survey • $100 stipend was offered to complete survey

20. Focus Groups • Youth in and out of literacy services • Adults in and out of literacy services • Human Service Providers

21. Products • Baseline Reports including an annual “Status of Literacy in Greater Hartford” with recommendations for action • Service Directory(ies) • Website

22. Implementation Phase 2003 and 2004 • Analysis of Models and Best Practices • Develop Quality Standards for literacy services • Advocate for policy changes and funding needed to implement standards and best practices • Service Directories

23. Key Features • The Greater Hartford Literacy Council and CLEAR partners leading the region in literacy enhancement • Model for system change • Each participant fully engaged and committed

24. Four Interrelated Focus Areas • System Coordination • Service Delivery and Capacity Building • Public Awareness and Advocacy • Funding for Literacy

25. Challenges for intermediary organizations • In times of limited resources, we should fund organizations that provide direct literacy instruction • We do not need another bureaucratic layer • Can you demonstrate your impact on improving literacy levels?

26. The TANF Workforce Literacy Pilot Project

27. Goals of the Pilot Project • Test our workforce literacy model • Increase literacy skills • Capture snapshot of educational needs • Evaluate process • Make recommendations

28. Workforce Literacy Model • Comprehensive assessment • Basic skills development integrated with job readiness skill development • Case management/support services • Quality staff and instruction • Intensive/Schedule • Individualized • Computer-assisted • 1:1 and small group

29. Targeted Technical Assistance • To facilitate a program shift • To manage a multifaceted program • To build capacity of the programs • Preferably on site and hands on

30. Challenges • Paradigm adjustment needed • Employment specialists • TFA recipients • Program sites

31. Results! • 58 completed program • 81% retention rate • 15 week cycle not enough to raise all skills above 9th grade level Native English speakers • 100% improved one or more grade level in one out of five reading skill areas Non-native English speakers • 83% improved one or more grade level in reading or listening skills

32. $$ Costs $$ $2,500 Average cost per student $2,930 Including technical assistance -Comprehensive assessment -Capacity building at sites

33. Results! • Legislature approved an additional $6.5 million dollars for workforce literacy programming • $2.2 earmarked for Greater Hartford • Facilitated a broad-based effort to support funding for adult literacy, the Campaign for Working Connecticut • Proposed legislation: $9,000,000 • adult education • incumbent worker training • workforce training • capacity building • evaluation

34. Literacy CouncilIntermediary OrganizationOur Role • Partnership Broker • Source for Literacy Information and Resources • Catalyst for Change Greater Hartford Literacy Council

35. Partnerships and AlignmentWorking Together to Promote Literacy • Comcast Family Literacy Project • Trinity College & ConnectiKids • Dutch Point Credit Union & Hartford Public Schools • Literacy in Healthcare Settings • Hartford Reads Greater Hartford Literacy Council

36. Lessons Learned • Building Trust and Ownership: Each participant fully engaged and committed (top-down & bottom-up) • Mutual self-interest • Governance • Communication & Networking • Community Assessment • Strategic Plan • Collaborative projects (find willing & able partners)

37. On behalf of all children and adults who struggle with low literacy, “Thank you.”