#1) Barrie Area Group, Friday November 23, 2001,12-2:30
#2) Collingwood Area Group, Friday November 30, 2001, 12:-2:30
The findings from the Youth Service Provider Focus groups will be summarized together, as a single summary, because the results were so similar. An outline of the focus group participants and their workplaces will preceed the summary, to provide context for the information and feedback that was gathered.
1) Barrie Area Group: Patricia McDonald, Job Connect Midland; Jason Barr, Barrie Career Centre; Connie Morgan, Barrie Literacy Council; Janis Barnes, Job Connect Barrie; Sue Bannon, Midland Area Reading Council; Mike St. John, Barrie and District Association for People with Special Needs; Gina Frederick, YMCA Youth and Gambling Project; Sue Hannon, HRDC Lakeland (Centre for Students) Orillia; Cherie Conrwell, Orilia Employment Resource Centre; Monica Miller-Hopkins, Midland Alternative Education; Tara Williams and Brian Hoysa, Focus Community Development and Job Connect, Alliston. (12)
2) Collingwood Group: Donna Pacheco and Bill Jones, Tracks Employment; Lynne Coutts, Careers 2000 - Collingwood Learning Centre; Sarah Harrison Cragg, Literacy and Basic Skills program, Collingwood Learning Centre; Frank Kewin (vice-principal) , Bill Ironside (Resource Dep't Chair), and Heather Webb (Resource teacher), Jean Vanier Catholic High School; Roger Hannon, Georgian Literacy. (8)
A questionnarie was distributed at the beginning of each meeting (see Appendix B) to assess the mandate of each participant's workplace, the age group served, the rough proportion of clients with literacy issues and evidence of such issues, and the availability of literacy programming either within the organization, or as a local referral.
The most important feedback came in the description of the age group served, and the availability of literacy programming for clients. Most programs with a learning component are designed for youth 19 years and older. Several participants suggested strongly that literacy programs for those between 16 - 19 years of age are either inappropriate in terms of content, setting and teaching styles, or non-existent. These problems were particularly noted in the Collingwood area. For example, in Collingwood, youth service providers can refer clients with high literacy needs to Georgian Literacy and the Literacy and Basic Skills program at the Learning Centre. However, both programs are mandated for youth 19 and over.