By Rosemary Chance                   June 2010 TeacherLibrarian

At first glance the mission of family literacy programs is clear.  These programs help children and their parents improve their literacy skills.

What could be simplier?  Invite children and their parents to a school library where children learn to read better and parents learn how to help their children read better.  Teacher-librarians and classroom teachers plan sessions where the parents bring their young children to the school, the children are read to, and the parents are shown how to read aloud to their children and how to discuss books with their children.  Children will experience success in school and parents will participate more in their children's education.

This basic concept seems reasonable, but a simple vision of family literacy does not fit neatly into our 21st century society.  To fully understand family literacy programs we need to consider the following questions... 

This article is the Feature Article in the June 2010 issue of TeacherLibrarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals.  It can be accessed on their website at http://www.teacherlibrarian.com   Look for the Digital TeacherLibrarian and click to download or read.

For 10 years, Raising Readers has provided age-appropriate books to all Maine children at birth and at each well child visit through age five. Books in the home provide opportunities for parents and children to enjoy books together but the story does not end there. Those books are also a resource that can be used in childcare, family literacy, libraries, and other settings.  In 2010 collaborations were established with select public libraries and the state’s network of childcare Resource Development Centers to provide access to Raising Readers books so they can be integrated into services and programming provided by a variety of organizations.   Raising Readers distributes a new collection of 12 books each year. The 2009 and 2010 Collections are now available at the following location. Subsequent collections will be added annually.

Find the Raising Readers Collections at these eight public libraries:

Belfast Free Library

Camden Public Library

Cherryfield Public Library

Paris Public Library

Skowhegan Public Library

Strong Public Library

Thompson Free Library (Dover-Foxcroft)

Waldoboro Public Library  Raising Readers has also produced a series of anthologies of children’s books by Maine authors and illustrators. Copies of each anthology are available at ALL public libraries in the state.

Find library info at: http://www.state.me.us/msl/services/findlibs.htm

The Collections are also available at the eight childcare Resource Development Centers:  Aroostook Community Action Program RDC – Presque Isle Carelink RDC – Sanford Childcare Opportunities – Ellsworth Childcare Options RDC – Farmingdale Childcare Connections RDC – Scarborough Finders Seekers RDC – Auburn Midcoast RDC – Bath Penquis RDC – Bangor  FMI: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/ec/occhs/devcenters.htm

(Biddeford, ME)  – Barbara Bush announced on June 10, 2010 that The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s Maine Family Literacy Initiative (MEFLI) has awarded a total of $380,000 to 22 communities in Maine.  Maine Family Literacy Initiative funds are used to support parents and children as they improve their reading, writing and comprehension and share the bond that reading together creates. At a special ceremony today at the J. Richard Martin Community Center in Biddeford, ME, representatives from each program accepted their grant awards from Mrs. Bush.  Mrs. Bush was joined by First Lady Karen Baldacci, a long time literacy advocate in Maine, at the celebration.

“The abilities to read, write and comprehend empower people to create brighter and more prosperous futures for themselves, their families and their communities,” said Mrs. Bush.  "The Foundation thinks it is important this year in hard times to volunteer more, give more money, and use our resources to support family literacy programs."

Nine family literacy grants -- 8 at $25,000 each and one at $15,000 – have been awarded this year on a competitive basis from applications submitted by libraries, adult education programs, and public schools across the state. An additional 8 planning grants of $5,000 each will help communities develop the partnerships and resources needed to implement a family literacy program. 

Five “Lighthouse Grants” of $25,000 each have also been awarded.  Recipients are well-established, model family literacy programs with significant outreach activities to support the promotion and expansion of family literacy services in Maine. Awardees are selected based on their ability to demonstrate experience and success in providing family literacy programming, the creativity of their outreach activities, and the diversity of their partnerships and target audiences.

Since 1996, The Maine Family Literacy Initiative has awarded 226 grants totaling $3,957,090. To learn more, visit www.mainefamilyliteracy.com 

Founded by Barbara Bush in 1989, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy supports the development and expansion of family literacy programs -- in settings where parents and children read and learn together -- across the United States.  Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations, correctional institutions, homeless shelters, schools and school districts, libraries and community- and faith-based agencies.  As of April 2010, the Foundation had awarded over $36 million to 837 family literacy programs in 50 states including the nation's capital. In addition to its national program, the Foundation supports the work of statewide initiatives in Maine, Texas, Maryland and Florida. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is a fund of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region in Washington, DC. To learn more, visit www.barbarabushfoundation.com.