ABLE aims to end generational illiteracy
The Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) program in Wooster operates out of the Gault Family Learning Center and offers a wide variety of free services for community members. Their programs are intended for individuals who have a deficit in their ability to read, write or communicate through written word. Beginning in November, they will unleash a revamped version of a past program, titled Even Start, which lost its funding last year. The redesigned program, Families Learning Together, will provide a more holistic approach to family services and address generational illiteracy within the community."We've been in Wayne County for well over three decades now. We used to be known primarily as the GED people—but some major changes in what the state is asking us to do, and some major changes in our funding structure—is leading us to where the GED is simply a small component of what all we're going to be doing up here, which is really kind of exciting news," explained Julie Kastner, coordinator of ABLE. "There have been an awful lot of new and exciting things happening in ABLE that have gone live within the last couple of months."
Furthermore, ABLE requires a family literacy component within its structure; thus the redevelopment of the Even Start program. This time, they will focus even more on teaching parents how to improve their own skills, but also passing on the desire to learn to children. The courses will also help parents learn how to best support their children during their education and how to help them with their own homework. Some basics will also be addressed, like the importance of reading to small children and setting that literacy foundation at the youngest age possible.
"And most importantly, I think for the Families Learning Together piece, is to really emphasize the importance of parental involvement," said Susie Slack, Families Learning Together coordinator. And families have a pretty broad interpretation. The parents can be any range of caregivers, such as grandparents or foster parents, to participate in the program. What is learned during the program will be transferable to other family members, which will result in more educated future generations.
"It's a total package of family literacy," Slack continued. "My vision is to offer at least one adult focused seminar every day. It might be parenting, it might be family nutrition, the best buy for your dollar when you go to the grocery store, or how to budget your family's money. And even maybe just reading the newspaper and having a guided discussion on what's happening in the world."
Aside from ABLE, the Gault Family Learning Center has a number of services under its roof. Currently, Help Me Grow, Tri-County Preschool, Littlest Generals Preschool and the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programs are housed there, among others. The Mentoring Our Moms for Success program is also available for pregnant women. A recent addition was the care of the newborn to those age 3, which will serve as the focus for the Families Learning Together program.
"We hope to be able to involve not just those students registered in the ABLE program, but also anyone in the community that might be interested in participating in family literacy programming, like nutrition, budgeting, life skills, registering to vote, parent education and basic adult skills that so many families are missing," Slack said.
Registration is currently open, though times and dates are still tentative for courses. The classes will most likely be held four days a week. Anyone interested in Families Learning Together or any other ABLE program should call the Gault Family Learning Center for more information at 330-263-8970.