Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework

Approaches to Service Coordination – Ontario Literacy Coalition

The challenges faced by many literacy learners are complex. They are often the most vulnerable in our society and may have many other challenges besides basic skills. Indeed issues around health, employment, housing and income support are often inexorably intertwined with the need for basic skills attainment. There is broad understanding in both government and among practitioners that Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs cannot be responsible for the range of supports necessary for learner success. There is a consensus that the success of learners in LBS programming is a function of more than the curriculum and delivery of literacy skills themselves.

Approaches to Service Coordination consider how services among different providers might be coordinated so that learners will have access to the supports they require. This paper examines in detail a range of promising practices in LBS programs, Ontario communities and in other jurisdictions. As the detailed research companion to the Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework’s (OALCF) Supporting Learners through Service Coordination and Referrals, this document will provide the reader with OLC’s findings regarding four possible approaches to service coordination in Ontario communities that can serve the complex needs of LBS learners and potential learners.

The Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF) Initiative is an undertaking supported by the Learning Ministries of the province of Ontario - the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.

The objectives of the OALCF are:

  • to improve quality and consistency of instruction in literacy programming and, in turn, lead to improved outcomes for literacy learners
  • be a valuable tool for LBS Program deliverers to help learners demonstrate their achievements to next-step service providers and employers
  • ensure new measures of program efficiency and effectiveness that align with other Employment Ontario Services

The communiqués below provide summaries of these projects and the work to come:

The OALC Steering Committee and Project Teams include an expanse of literacy knowledge from various sectors and streams, including: