Summary

This report represents the completion of the Positive Strategies for Managing Change project.

The Positive Strategies for Managing Change project was first conceived in 1999, following a survey of all programs within the Tri-County Literacy Network region. The purpose of the survey was to have administrators, practitioners and tutors identify "their priorities for field development."

The overall goal of the project was to "help practitioners to adapt to organizational and policy change while promoting a positive work environment and ultimately more effective literacy services." Stemming from this goal, the following six key objectives were developed:

1. To effectively gather and distribute information to all project participants on best practices that will assist practitioners in implementing Program Reform.
2. To provide training that will enhance the practitioner's ability to adapt to change in the workplace in general and specifically LBS within the context of Program Reform.
3. To assist practitioners to develop an action plan and move forward with required changes in a manner that is focused and positive.
4. To provide an opportunity for participants to meet other practitioners who have found ways to implement required changes in an effective manner and to learn from each other.
5. To ensure that the content of all training and resources takes a positive approach.
6. To develop a model that can be utilized by other regional networks.

The report has been organized according to the following five sections:

1. Methodology — including the research and project design
2. Results and Discussion — including the results of the pre-workshop survey, best practices research, literature review, workshop evaluations and workshop follow-up survey
3. Conclusions and Recommendations — including recommendations for Tri-County Literacy Network and other networks wanting to replicate this project
4. Consultant's Postscript: Observations and Reflections — including an employee-centric model for managing change
5. Appendices — including research and evaluation instruments and the workshop resource materials