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-r <br />2. <br />NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION <br />National Significance Programs <br />The Family Literacy Program will provide volunteer tutors to <br />assist parents and children by emphasizing two areas of need: <br />1. Read A Story To A Tot - RASTAT: (Pre - school Based Literacy <br />Assistance for Children). <br />This program will address the need for literacy training for at <br />risk, disadvantaged pre- school children as the rate of illiteracy <br />in North Carolina continues to impede social development and <br />economic growth. Senior citizen volunteers will read on a one t'o <br />one basis to children at several preschools, Headstarts, and <br />kindergartens. The aim is to help these targeted children develop <br />a love for books, as well as listening skills. Listening oppor- <br />tunities for these children may be lacking in the home situation. <br />This type of interaction improves listening skills and language <br />development, making entry into the public school system a more <br />positive and successful experience. <br />Stations: RASTAT, Community School for People Under 6, Wee -Card, <br />OCIM Day Care, Carrboro Elementary, Glenwood Elementary <br />2. English as a Second Language - ESL: (Adult and Child Literacy <br />Assistance). <br />This program will provide trained tutors to immigrant adults and <br />children. In the past few years the immigrant population in Orange <br />County has soared. Since 1980, the Asian population has increased <br />by 221% to 2,361 people. There are 1,279 Hispanics living in <br />Orange County. Many of these people have only rudimentary English <br />speaking skills. The native language is probably spoken at homei, <br />thereby limiting the child's ability to learn English. Volunteers <br />will be assigned to the preschool children and the parents in these <br />families in order to teach them English as a Second Language (ESL)',. <br />In this way, the cycle of functional illiteracy can be halted silo <br />the immigrant family is bettered suited to enter the Engliish <br />speaking mainstream of society. Because there may be a lack of <br />children's books available in the home, the program will purchasle <br />books which can be rotated on a lone basis to families. The <br />volunteer will also introduce the families to the public library <br />and encourage-utilization of library and bookstore resources. <br />Station: *Orange County Literacy Council - Carrboro and <br />Hillsborough offices (Other sites for one on one tutoring can be <br />community centers, libraries or other locations agreed upon by the <br />client and the volunteer). <br />*May contribute in -kind resources (desk, space, etc.) for RSVP <br />Literacy Coordinator. <br />FN:RPGRANT\AUGLTNAR.DOC <br />