On the other hand, adult literacy programs, which have an increasing focus on employment/further education skills, may not link an adult’s parenting needs to programs and services offered by early learning centres or other organizations that provide family and children services.

At the provincial/territorial level, there was little evidence of literacy coalitions networking with provincial/territorial service groups that focus on family and children services. For example, staff from a literacy coalition may not connect with staff from the provincial Early Childhood Education organization. Again the reasons for this are closely linked to funding: most, if not all literacy coalitions, receive funding to focus on adult literacy. More research is needed to determine the extent of this gap and the potential benefit for establishing a relationship.

Data collection for this scan

During the Spring and Summer of 2007, 30 telephone interviews were held with staff from each of the provincial/territorial coalitions, staff from other organizations involved in the provision of family literacy programs and services, and with government contacts from some provinces and territories. Where appropriate (e.g., knowledge of MCL as a national organization), interviewees were asked what they saw as the role of MCL in family literacy.

Their responses fell into seven broad categories:

• dissemination of information/clearinghouse/database (11 responses)
• research (model development or reshaping) (7 responses)
• awareness/advocacy (nationally)/ policy development (6 responses)
• partnership building (5 responses)
• forum for sharing (5 responses)
• development of certificate program and/or training standards (4 responses)
• best practices/models (4 responses)

It is possible to re-group these suggested roles into two key areas:

• “knowledge-mobilization” – research, forum for sharing, venue for disseminating information
• collaboration – awareness, advocacy, partnership building, policy development