Despite the fact that multiple ministries in Ontario are directly impacted by what can be termed ‘Family Literacy’ programs, there is no provincial policy on Learning for Families.

With the skills developed in Family Literacy programs, caregivers are better able to find and maintain work, newcomers have opportunities to learn language skills and cultural norms, and participants learn techniques for navigating health, financial and citizenship services. The development of these skills directly impacts the demand for services, currently offered by many ministries within the Ontario Government.

Learning for Families reflects every aspect of life in Ontario because it is multi-generational and multi-cultural, and it impacts multiple issues within our society.

The OLC Vision

The OLC recognizes the great need to create a practical, centralized, cross-ministerial framework to move the Learning for Families agenda forward. Because literacy is a cross-cutting issue, a Learning for Families Strategy is required to engage all the relevant public sector stakeholders.

Our Learning for Families Strategy seeks to:

• Facilitate partnerships between family literacy agencies, community partners and a variety of government ministries.
• Advise the public sector on family literacy activities to shape policy and guide program development.
• Serve as an incubator of new approaches to Family Literacy.
• Leverage the OLC’s role as policy advisor to develop a cross-ministerial Learning for Family Strategy.

The OLC has partnered with the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (HRSDC) in a Learning for Families initiative. For more information, visit [link to Learning for Families/new project].