• About Us
• News
• Community
• Careers

Spotlight On

Family Literacy Program

The Family Literacy Program grants parents the opportunity to serve as the foundation upon which their children can build successful scholastic careers and foster a spirit of advocacy for academics in the homes of local families.

Funded by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Trident United Way for addressing the social issues of poverty and low literacy rates, the Family Literacy Program is a free service whose initiatives impact the Tri-County area.

The Family Literacy Program operates on a four-component, comprehensive model that includes: adult basic education, early childhood education, parent education and instruction that includes the parent and child together. Operating under the guiding principle that children and parents learn best when they learn together, the program provides educational opportunities geared towards enhancing the literacy and life skills of every family member.

Triple P, a parenting program in child behavior management and motherhead, which combines literacy skills with child development and empowerment issues, speaks to the Family Literacy Program’s primary goal of helping families prepare children for success in school. Each time they visit, children receive a free book, and parents leave equipped with resources and activity guides to continue the learning process at home.

Improving family literacy provides opportunities for those who would otherwise become victims of their circumstances to reach higher levels of achievement. Literacy instills confidence and a sense of empowerment that helps families overcome the hurdles of poverty, disparities in healthcare savvy and unemployment due to inadequate training.

The program’s projects and resources include:

• Reading, writing and play activities between parents and their children.
• Information for parents about child development and early learning.
• Fun activities for children to learn letters, shapes, numbers, colors and more.
• Referrals to local agencies who provide ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, GED preparation and other literacy related resources to help adults improve reading and other job-related skills.

For more information, contact Kim Odom, program coordinator, at 843.818.6102, ext. 123 or visit http://www.musckids.com/about/dept_prog/family_literacy.htm.