Barbara Bush Foundation’s Maine Family Literacy Initiative Awards New Grants Totaling $445K

Business Wire, June 22, 2009

CamdenThe Community School, Inc.To support Family Connections: Phase Two, which continue to engage adolescent parents who have dropped out of school and their children in family literacy programming. Phase Two will utilize teen parents existing strengths and knowledge of technology to build literacy skills, encouraging teen parents to become involved in the design of playgroups that meet the needs of their children.

LewistonLewiston School DepartmentTo support A Step Ahead, engaging Somali refugees and other low-income families in pre-K programming, adult literacy and multi-generational activities of a comprehensive family literacy program.

Old TownRegional School Unit #34To support Reading in the Family, which will expand to four elementary schools in the new regional school unit. Families of Old Town, Alton, Greenbush, Milford and Bradley will be recruited and served through the partnership between the school department, the River Coalition, Head Start, Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, Old Town Adult Education and new partner, The Housing Authority of Old Town.

PortlandUniversity of Southern MaineTo support Kennedy Park Family Literacy as it broadens the support of English Language Learners to include families with children from birth to age eight and includes the integration of technology to support literacy learning.

SumnerSumner Adult EducationTo support Families Growing Together, a collaborative between Sumner Adult Education and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) ASPIRE program. The program will address the adult literacy needs of DHHS clients through the development of career pathways and workforce skills to improve financial self-sufficiency and early childhood literacy though key partnerships.

WaterboroMaine School Administration District #57To support Joy in Reading Together, introducing a family literacy partnership between Massabesic Center for Adult Learning and Waterboro Head Start serving 15 families in integrated adult literacy, early childhood and intergenerational programming.

WestbrookWestbrook School DepartmentTo support Improving Family Literacy, combining home-based and site-based literacy services for parents and children of English as a Second Language and low-income families for a comprehensive family literacy program. Adult family members will also learn about GED and high school diploma courses of study and have a transition plan in place when academically ready.

WiscassetRegional School Unit #12To support Wiscasset Families Learning Together, which includes the use of laptops to expand the intensity of literacy services available. Families will also be provided the skills to continue school learning objectives at home through Fun Family Fridays kits, which include curricular extension activities, family meal activities and opportunities for consistent reading activities.