Even Start program helps young parents develop family literacy
By Jennifer Kneuss
June 14, 2011
1014
Typically, children begin kindergarten around the age of 5, and progress through school until they walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma. But for some young people, typical does not apply. Families move, parents divorce, grades plummet, unplanned pregnancies occur, or life just simply turns out differently than anticipated, resulting in a teenager not completing high school before moving into the adult world.
For those young parents whose lives have taken an unexpected turn, the Even Start Family Literacy Program is available. A federally funded program that has been assisting families since 1988, Even Start works on the local level, providing adult literacy classes, early childhood education, parenting education, and literacy activities for children and their parents to explore together, in an orchestrated effort to make a difference in the lives of all family members involved. The ultimate goal is to break the cycle of poverty and low literacy for the next generation of Americans.
In Tuscarawas County, the Even Start program has been a tremendous success.
We had 12 young women complete their GEDs through the Even Start program over the last year, explained director Cindy Laughlin, noting that six of those women recently participated in a very special graduation event that included individualized makeover sessions donated by Do or Dye Salon in New Philadelphia and a sit-down dinner at a local restaurant. Following dinner, there was a graduation ceremony held at Buckeye Career Center.
We have had a special dinner for the past few years, and added the makeover last year. The makeover is a big part, absolutely. They dont get a chance to go out and get their hair cut like that. They really took a lot of time with the girls and their hair. Going out to a restaurant was something special for them, too, said Laughlin.
Moms and dads alike can be in the program. They initially come in and do an assessment. Depending on their level, and how often they come to class, determines how soon they accomplish their goal. They could be there from five months to a year or two, explained the director.
Amy Stauffer-McNutt has been an adult education teacher with Even Start for the past two years.
I think because this is a family literacy program, we build relationships on more levels than academic, Stauffer-McNutt explained. There is a parenting component, and we have home visits, too. Each day, the child development director sets up activities for the first half hour for parents and little ones to do together. This includes our infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and grade school age children.
While the parents learn, the kids are in rooms with teachers, and have healthy snacks and learning sessions that include reading activities and time in the gross motor play room, noted Stauffer-McNutt. Teachers provide a variety of developmental assessments, and then make suggestions as to what is on track, or where they are ahead or behind.
We have a strong, strong literacy component, said the teacher. We encourage them to participate in area events as families.
Unfortunately, federal budget cuts have completely eliminated ongoing Even Start funding.
We are losing 100 percent of our funding, but got an extension through September. We are now trying to look into grants, talking with social services and schools, trying to see if there is anything we can do, said Laughlin. It is a difficult time to look for additional funding.
Without funding, the program is in jeopardy.
I think that we, at this point, are the only family literacy program in the county, said Laughlin. It is very important to educate the parents as well as the children. These are at-risk parents, and we want them to become self-sufficient and their kids to be successful in school.
To learn more, contact Laughlin at 330-308-9939.
