Washington, DC—In an effort to increase literacy among children and parents who live in the District, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has partnered with CentroNia, a non-profit community-based organization located in Northwest, to promote reading as a fun family activity through Family Book Clubs.
“We need to support the emerging literacy of our young children to combat illiteracy in the District,” said DHS Interim Director Brian Wilbon.
Last year, the DHS Early Care and Education Administration (ECEA) teamed-up with CentroNia to launch Family Book Clubs in Wards 1, 7, and 8 as part of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Early Childhood Development’s Early Readers Now Initiative. Family Book Clubs support the Mayor’s initiative to increase parents’ awareness about the importance of early literacy and early learning.
“The early childhood years are crucial to laying the foundation for learning to read and write. Through Family Book Clubs, young children enjoy a great book with family members and friends while learning to cherish books and literature,” said ECEA Administrator Barbara Ferguson Kamara.
Since 1986, CentroNia in Columbia Heights has provided affordable, high-quality education, professional development, and family support services to nearly 1,200 low-income Latino, African American and multiethnic children, youth and families in the District. Family Book Clubs serve as yet another vehicle for the organization to educate District residents.
Due to the success of the Family Book Clubs, DHS and CentroNia want to expand the literacy program into new neighborhoods this fall in the hopes of reaching more parents and families. Currently 73 parents, 108 children who range in age from 0-to-five, and 15 coaches participate in Family Book Clubs. Young children will often invite older siblings and relatives to join in the Book Club sessions. And, District of Columbia Public School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey endorses the program because he believes that “generational literacy is extremely important.”
Parents who volunteer as Family Book Club coaches receive a stipend and training in literacy development. Coaches also receive a variety of books for their centers and schools. During the parent and child shared read a loud session, both the child and the parent receives a copy of the book to read together during that session plus, an additional book to add to their home libraries.
“CentroNia is very happy to be running this program because our qualified staff knows how to reach and educate families from the community,” said Eileen Wasow, Chief Academic Officer at CentroNia.
“Thanks to our partnership with Scholastic/Lee y Seras we are able to offer high quality, bilingual literature for children. The curriculum supports a high level of parent child interaction, which parents really love,” Wasow said.