Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i8MFCO829582; Wed, 22 Sep 2004 11:12:34 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 11:12:34 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <NEBBIMKGCMIKKBIFJDIPEEDPCLAA.carchambault@haverhill-ma.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Connie Archambault" <carchambault@haverhill-ma.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1936] RE: difficult decisions X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2911.0) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 3463 Lines: 73 Janet I tend to agree with you. Many of our families have a history that includes a lack of commitment which is something we work will focus on. Our attendance policy is reviewed with them from the first day and once they start we do have a contract that we ask them to sign; that reinforces their understanding of our policy. We have a 3 strikes and you're out rule that includes all components since we have had families who attend for the ABE and seem to be sick on the days we do Parenting and Interactive Literacy. I say 3 strikes and you are out, however each situation is evaluated and we stretch this where appropriate. Usually within the first three weeks those that are not a good fit will drop out until they are ready. The topics of attendance and commitment are ongoing and sometimes this is a families goal, just to attend regularly. Here in Haverhill We complete applications and school required paperwork about their children on the first day. Program expectations and mission are presented both at orientation and on their first day. Home Visits are scheduled the first week and do not include program paperwork. The curriculum theme is carried through from Interactive Literacy to Home Visits, we also recognize that some times the individual families goals dictate what we should do in a Home Visit. Connie Connie Archambault Even Start Family Literacy Coordinator Haverhill Public Schools 150 Boardman St. Haverhill, MA 01830 carchambault@haverhill-ma.com 978 469-8706 fax& phone -----Original Message----- From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Isserlis, Janet Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 9:22 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1935] difficult decisions Karol wrote: > If a family has trouble keeping these three home visits, chances are > there will be difficulties with attendance later. .. families must have 75% attendance so we want to be sure that the > family is a good fit for us. Since we have a long waiting list, it > isn't fair to keep slots open for families that are not ready. If a > family can't keep the three visits, we just put them back on the waiting > list until they feel they want to try again. > This raises a chronic issue - do we work better by serving fewer students, by waiting til they're "ready" or *is* part of our work in helping folks not also about allowing people more than one chance to get started? There are arguments for both stances: we don't have time/space/resources to wait - we can work with X number of people now. The other position, however, seems to lead inevitably to the fact that many of the people who aren't "ready" will never be ready without some ancillary support along the way. It puts providers into an all-or-nothing position - come now, or don't come at all, and does exactly the opposite of what many of us are trying to do -- enable adults to do what they need to do to get to programs and to be present to learning. I bring this up not to cast judgement one way or another but rather to question generally when and how those decisions get made, by whom and in whose interests. It also seems unusual for a program to be able to do this amount of "pre' work (three home visits) - I wonder how/if use of that time in assisting people in becoming ready to get to school might shift in some way so that not only are papers being completed, but strategies designed to help folks get started? Janet Isserlis
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