The New Brunswick Coalition for Literacy notes in its report Live Horse, ‘til the Grass Grows, A study of Family Literacy in New Brunswick that intergenerational family literacy programming is not widely provided in the province. Some community groups have provided intergenerational family literacy programs in the past, notably from 2001 – 2003 in Saint John and 2001 – 2004 in Fredericton. However, there is currently very little family literacy infrastructure in New Brunswick to support large family literacy projects. This means that most family literacy activities involve promotion. At this time, the bulk of the provincially funded programming provided through the Early Childhood Initiatives and the Community Raising Children Initiatives focuses primarily on ensuring that children grow up literate.
How is family literacy funded in New Brunswick?
In New Brunswick, adult literacy is funded through the provincial government Community Adult Learning Branch. Regional literacy coordinators assist regional literacy committees in making decisions about the type of program or service delivery that is needed in the region. These programs focus on adults who are assessed with literacy skills below Grade 9 and adults who are working towards a GED. While the focus for these adults may not be specifically on family literacy, there is an assumption that skills learned in one setting can be transferred to other settings – including the family.
Other provincial departments (Community and Individual Development, Department of Social Development, for example) provide funding for services that may be labeled family literacy. The focus, however, is primarily on the child.
The Department of Social Development (along with corporate donations, individual donations and fundraising efforts) also fund the Born to Read/le gout de lire program. This program ensures that all newborn babies in New Brunswick receive a bag of books with a message to parents on the importance of reading to their children from birth, promoting early language development and encouraging parents to read to their children.
Since the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick began hosting the Peter Gwozski Invitational Golf Tournament in 2002, a portion of the funds raised each year has been used to fund family literacy projects (promotion activities and program activities).