National Adult Literacy Database

This document outlines a project undertaken by the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC), now called Essential Skills Ontario, to explore models of intergenerational family literacy programming. Such programs address the literacy needs of parents, grandparents, and caregivers, and provide them with the knowledge to better support their children’s literacy development and, in some cases, upgrade their own literacy skills.

The authors point out that currently, there are few models of family literacy programming that fully integrate adult and children’s literacy development. Here, they focus on programs in Hamilton, Toronto and Kingston, Ontario, that offer a look at the best and most promising practices for family literacy programs in Ontario.

They note that the research isn’t simply an evaluation of the program models but, rather, is a comprehensive look at some very different integrated family literacy programs in varying community and school contexts.

The major recommendation to emerge from the project is the establishment of a secretariat to promote and support family literacy in Ontario.

To learn more about Essential Skills Ontario, click here: http://www.essentialskillsontario.ca/.