Trails to Literacy: PHASES
Benefits - The benefits to the participants were evident almost immediately. They gained skills and confidence. One of the earliest participants left the project for paid employment. The benefits to the agency are just beginning to become apparent. We are getting positive publicity and the project is providing a base for our new workforce focus.
Community - The most obvious community involvement is through the County Trails Committee. A councillor for the County, who sits on the Millennium Trails Committee, has become one of the greatest advocates for the Trails To Literacy project. She promotes it at every opportunity and has been effective in gaining donations for the project. The other main source of community support has come from Ontario Works. They promote the opportunity to do community placements at the Trails project and worked with us to apply for National Child Tax Benefit program funding.
Sign designed for Millennium Trails
Recruitment - Most of the recruitment for participants was through word of mouth, normal assessment process and Ontario Works.
Evaluation - Because the project, as a whole, is really in the development stage, evaluation has been limited to observation of changed behaviour, tracking of contact hours, observation of products and skills developed, and positive participant comments.