Opening Doors to Learning
How did you evaluate or measure your success?
- Tutors/Facilitators completed monthly progress reports.
- Individual participant assessment records were compiled [Justice Literacy Indicator and the Canadian Adult Reading Assessment(CARA)]
- Tutor/Facilitators completed a final report form.
- A planning meeting was held prior to program start.
- A review of reports, statistics, student assessments was conducted prior to this final report.
- The Director of North East Corrections facilities contributed feedback to this final evaluation form.
What activities did your organization do in order to achieve these objectives?
- Purchase copies of Justice Literacy Indicator
- Obtained and distributed copies of the Canadian Adult Reading Assessment (CARA)
- Hired three (3) tutor/facilitators – one for each correction facility
- Held training session
- Registered and assessed inmate learners
- Prepared individual learning programs
- Received and scanned pictures, typed print material
- Distributed yearbook to corrections, provincial literacy, and national literacy organizations.
The Literacy Coordinator visited each facility to inform staff about the upcoming project. Space was allocated within each jail and furnishing provided by either the jail or the college. Facilitators were hired for Besnard, Buffalo Narrows and Waden Bay Corrections. Classrooms were decorated and arranged by each facilitator. Students were registered and assessed. Resource material was provided to each learner. The coordinator monitored the progress by email, mail and telephone.
Should this project/program be continued?
Yes
If yes, what plans do you have?
Discussion will continue between the college and corrections to identify funding sources for continuing the program. I would encourage staff to conduct basic literacy screening for each inmate as soon as possible after arrival. The Justice Literacy Indicator was found to be too difficult a list. Another list should be created with simpler words.