Resources for Youth Literacy:
Project Overview

This project was designed to fill an identified gap in literacy programming in the Simcoe County region and beyond. It has become evident in the past few years that there has been a significant increase in the number of youth ages 16 to 24 years who have left the school system. This is the target group for this project. Many of these youth have not acquired the literacy skills necessary to obtain employment, enter skilled trades programs, apprenticeships or return to school to obtain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

The goals for this project were as follows:

• investigation into and summary of existing literature related to best practices in youth literacy (print, web, and field visit research)
• development of objectives and key questions for focus groups from research findings
• focus group consultation with target group youth, and youth service providers throughout Simcoe County to determine the goals, aspirations, interests and learning styles of youth-at-risk
• analysis and summary of focus group research, including results of a youth learning activities interest rating scale
• formulation of a 4 week program (photography focus, as per results of focus group research) as a framework for literacy learning, outreach, and referral for at risk youth
• 4 week pilot project with 6 at-risk youth participants to test and revise learning materials
• publishing of the research outcomes and a learning materials package for distribution to literacy, youth and educational organizations throughout Simcoe County, as well as Alpha Plus and the National Adult Literacy Database.

Our research, gathered via field visits, print and web research, and focus groups with at-risk youth and youth service providers, clearly indicated that many youth are resistant to returning to learning because of a long history of negative school experiences. Focus group responses have indicated that youth are most likely to return to a literacy / upgrading program with an arts-based focus, in an accepting and non-traditional atmosphere.