The Saskatchewan Literacy Network (SLN) has been involved with family literacy for many years and it supports a wide range of family literacy programs. It does this through training and through promotional activities that increase awareness of programs and educate the public about the issue of family literacy.
How is family literacy funded in Saskatchewan?
In 2005, the province of Saskatchewan established the Saskatchewan Literacy Commission. The work of the Commission is overseen by an advisory board made up of individuals involved in literacy programming. The Commission has been set up to develop and coordinate a new provincial literacy strategy: SaskSmart – Literacy for Life Initiative. The Commission deals with policy and programming across government ministries and sectors (0-6 years, K to 12 and adult literacy – including family literacy, workplace literacy and English as a Second Language).
The Commission is continuing the Family Literacy Initiative Program (FLIP), which was first implemented in 1998. FLIP will provide funding to established regional family literacy networks and it will also provide project-based funding. Project funding will support the development of new regional networks and short-term local projects.
The Saskatchewan Literacy Commission has developed a set of guiding principles that are based on family literacy standards developed by SLN. The principles recognize the importance of providing “programs and services that respond to the learning needs of participant, families and the communities in which they take place. Family literacy service providers give participants opportunities to be involved in all stages including input into program content, format and evaluation.” Footnote 21
The Commission uses an intergenerational definition of family literacy. It sees literacy development as one that “encompasses the ways in which parents, children and extended family members develop and use literacy at home and in their community during the routines of daily living,” Footnote 22
In Saskatchewan, both the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon Star Phoenix provide funding for family literacy initiatives through the Raise-a-Reader campaign. The Literacy Network is one of the beneficiaries of this campaign.
Return to note 21 The Family Literacy Initiative Program Funding Guidelines. Saskatchewan Literacy Commission, 2007. Retrieved from www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/sasksmart/fund/family.htm July 2007.
Return to note 22 Ibid.