Name of the Project

New York State Alliance for Family Literacy

Grantee Contact

Robert Frawley

NYS Council on Children and Families

Mayor Erastus Corning 2^nd Tower

5 Empire State Plaza, Suite 2810

Albany, NY 12223

Tel: (518) 473-3652 and Fax: (518) 473-2570

E-mail: frawley@capital.net

Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Coordinator

Susan Perkins

NYS Council on Children and Families

Mayor Erastus Corning 2^nd Tower

5 Empire State Plaza, Suite 2810

Albany, NY 12223

Tel: (518) 473-3652 and Fax: (518) 473-2570

E-mail: seperkins@aol.com

Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative Project Goals

• To coordinate and integrate existing Federal, State, and local family literacy resources
• To expand and strengthen family literacy services in New York State by stimulating and supporting local family literacy alliances
• To improve the quality of family literacy services
• To complete the development of performance indicators for family literacy

Project Description

The New York State Alliance for Family Literacy will meet the goals stated above for the overall purpose of creating a culture of literacy in which all citizens have the opportunity to become productive, contributing members in New York State. Key activities include: an assessment of current resources that support family literacy and sharing of information about how to utilize/access those resources; assessment of policy, program and administrative barriers; development and implementation of a system of ongoing training that ties in research findings; completion and implementation of performance indicators; and development of regional trainings designed to establish a common understanding of the importance of family literacy.

Priorities

• Using research on reading and literacy in program planning
• Implementing a professional development plan for staff
• Increasing the intensity of family literacy activities for school-age children (up to 7 years old)
• Improving local evaluation methods and practices
• Absolute Priority: Family Literacy Performance Indicators