5.1 Family literacy models oriented toward minorities

Family literacy models designed specifically for linguistic and cultural minorities such as immigrants and
refugees all integrate elements such as a critical dimension, autonomy and the social integration of
families. As with any other model of family literacy, a participative and critical approach is recommended,
with a focus on transformation or the capacity of "becoming," to use the expression of Masny and Dufresne
(2007). Models that adopt such an approach are particularly well suited to Francophones in Ontario
because they try to answer the needs of linguistic and cultural minorities.

Three family literacy models that focus on linguistic and cultural minorities deserve a more in-depth
description. These are the American model developed by Kenan, the Parent Empowerment for Family
Literacy (PEFaL), which was implemented in six different countries, and the Manukau Family Literacy
Program (MFLP) from New Zealand. We will also present a handful of other American models.

5.1.1 The Kenan model - United States¹⁵

Because of its influence on many family literacy programs, it is worth presenting the American Kenan
model. Designed in the United States by the National Center for Family Literacy and originally developed
in Kentucky, it includes the following four components:

1. Adult education: This component targets the acquisition of basic skills, including the ability to use
   critical and creative thinking, to solve problems, to set and meet goals and to acquire interpersonal
   skills.
2. Children's education: The aim of this component is to promote the growth and development of
   young children and the involvement of parents in their children's educational program.
3. PACTT (Parent and Child Together Time): This component targets the involvement of parents and
   children in interactive activities that stimulate the child's development, reinforce the parent-child
   relationship and lead to the acquisition of academic literacy skills.
4. Education in parenting skills This component aims to inform parents about very important
   subjects such as child development, the way a child learns to read and write and the resources
   available in the community to support parents. It also aims to create a forum for discussion on the
   well-being of families and for networking between parents and families (National Center for Family
   Literacy,1989).

The Kenan model has been adapted to meet the needs of bilingual and multilingual families mostly from
immigrant and refugee communities. The main elements of the model remain the same, but various other
elements have been added, including helping parents understand the American school system, learning
how to support their child in the system and learning English (McCollumand Russo, 1993).

¹⁵ For more information on this model. see the National Center for Family Literacy website: http://www.famlit.org