Project Update - January 2008

Researcher/Writer: Melanie Redman

January finds the Developing Models of Best Practices for Integrated Family Literacy Programming Project well underway. The first phase of this important process is the literature review and development of the research framework. Our researcher/writer, Melanie Redman, is spending the month reviewing the fantastic accomplishments in the area of family literacy to date. She is also using this time to travel to the program sites in Toronto, Kingston and Hamilton to establish relationships, trust and collaboratively prepare the research framework.

Phase II begins in mid-February after Melanie presents her findings to date. At that time, the team plans to convene a stakeholder engagement meeting for sometime in the month of March. We feel that it is critical to bring literacy funders and other important stakeholders together to provide an overview of the work we are engaged in. Our desire is to plant the seed of our work, keep them abreast over the months, and then convene once again in June to share our findings and recommendations.

February, March and April are critical months in the research phase of our project. Melanie will spend ample time in all program pilot sites observing and interviewing family literacy program staff and participants. This work builds on the literature review and discovery phase of the program, and will prepare us to bring our findings together in a comprehensive, cohesive recommendations report.

Stay tuned for updates!