In January 2007, the BC government announced a $27 million literacy plan called ReadNow BC. ReadNow BC is part of the government’s desire to create sustainable legacies as a result of hosting the 2010 Olympic and Para-Olympic Winter Games (Legacy 2010).
Who delivers family literacy in British Columbia?
Literacy BC supports family literacy by building partnerships with government, boards of education, Literacy Now communities and the many champions of family literacy in the private sector. Literacy BC also plays a lead role in increasing public awareness and supporting training and professional development for practitioners. For example, every year it organizes Family Literacy Week in January. Recently, in partnership with the Centre for Family Literacy, it helped to create the Family Literacy Certificate program offered through Vancouver Community College.
Across BC, more that 500 family literacy programs are provided by a variety of organizations and service clubs. Non-profit organizations (such as the Boys and Girls Clubs), libraries, schools, family resources centres, immigrant services, family and social services and municipalities are only a few examples of the types of organizations involved.
Many different approaches to family literacy are used across the province. Some examples are: Literacy and Parenting Skills (LAPS), Books for Babies, Come Read with Me and Parent-Child Mother Goose.
References