Resources for English Learners in the McDaniel Area
Conexiones
Charles County Public Schools Lifelong Learning Center in cooperation with College of Southern Maryland
Charles County Public Schools
The American English Language Program, Montgomery Community College
Resource Center for Language and Culture
Baltimore County Office of World Languages
Carroll Community College
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Carroll County Public Schools
The Office of Multicultural Services at McDaniel College
Foreign-born Information and Referral Network
Calvert Country Public Schools
Center for International and Multicultural Students at Montgomery College-Germantown Campus
The York County Literacy Council (YCLC)
Partners for Success
Parent Resource Center
Brethren Service Center
Community Agency School Services
CONEXIONES was established to address the fact that Hispanic students are one of the most underachieving groups in the Howard County Public Schools, measured by state and local assessments and by the high school graduation rate. CONEXIONES seeks to provide assistance and support to Latino students and their families to encourage them to complete high school and consider higher education. Toward this end, it has established a scholarship fund to recognize and reward outstanding Hispanic students graduating from high school. It is also developing a mentoring/tutoring model to enrich the learning process.
CONEXIONES seeks to involve the greater community by sponsoring yearly planning conferences for community leaders, school system officials, students, representatives from Howard community College, and other interested persons to meet and discuss issues related to education and career development for Hispanic county residents. CONEXIONES distributes its bimonthly, bilingual newsletter free to inform Howard County residents of activities sponsored by CONEXIONES and of educational issues. CONEXIONES has also developed a list of recommendations to improve language and academic support services in the schools.
CONEXIONES was established in October 2000, as a response to the needs of Hispanic/Latino children in the Howard County Public Schools. CONEXIONES was incorporated in the state of Maryland as a non-profit organization. During its past three years of operation, CONEXIONES has, through the efforts of volunteer members, undertaken a number of activities, including a scholarship program, enrichment of educational and career opportunities for Hispanic students, and adjustment to school life. CONEXIONES also publishes annual reports which include demographic data on Latino students at all levels. A partnership between CONEXIONES and the Howard County Schools has been established. Volunteers from CONEXIONES meet with school system officials and community leaders in an effort to improve the services available to Latino students at all levels.
The overall goals of CONEXIONES are:
* Encourage Hispanic students to complete high school and consider
higher education
* Sponsor a scholarship fund to provide awards for graduating Hispanic
students
* Enhance the awareness of school personnel and the community to the
educational needs of Hispanic students in Howard County
* Provide academic and language assistance to Hispanic students
* Recommend new initiatives to the Howard County Public Schools to
meet the needs of Hispanic students
* Monitor the grade-to-grade migration of Hispanic students toward
completion of high school
* Publish a free, bimonthly bilingual newsletter for the Hispanic community
and friends
* Celebrate the Hispanic heritage during special holidays with appropriate
activities
* To encourage parents and guardians of Hispanic students to participate in
the educational processCONEXIONES fue establecido para responder a la realidad que los estudiantes hispanos/latinos estan dentro de los grupos de bajo rendimiento en las escuelas publicas en Howard County. Estos rendimientos son medidos por las evaluaciones del Estad y del Condado y por las tasas de graduacion de high school. CONEXIONES busca proveer ayuda y respaldo a los estudiantes
hispanos/latinos y a sus familias para animarles a completar sus estudios de la educacion media (high school) y dirigir a la educacion superior. Hacia este objetivo, CONEXIONES ha establecido un fondo de becas para reconocer y premiar estudiantes hispanos/latinos destacados del grado 12. Ademas, CONEXIONES esta en el proceso de desarrollar un modelo de tutoria y apoyo para
enriquecer el procedimiento del aprendizaje para estudiantes de todos los niveles.CONEXIONES quiere involucrar a la comunidad en general a traves de sus conferencias anuales invitando a los lideres de la comunidad, oficiales del sistemo educativo, estudiantes, representantes del Howard Community College y otros interesados para discutir asuntos relacionados a la educacion y a las carreras. CONEXIONES distribuye su noticiero bemensual y bilingue para informar a los residentes del Condado Howard acerca de actividades educativas, civicas y otras. Ademas, CONEXIONES ha desarrollado una lista de recomendaciones a la junta
Directiva de Educacion (Board of Education) para mejorar el rendimiento academico y de Lenguaje en las escuelas para nuestros estudiantes.CONEXIONES fue establecido en octubre del ano 2000 respondiendo a las necesidades de los estudiantes hispanos/latinos en las escuelas publicas de Howard County. CONEXIONES se Incorporo sin animo de lucro en el estado de Maryland. Durante sus tres anos de actividades, a traves de los esfuerzos de sus miembros voluntarios, CONEXIONES ha emprendido un numero de actividades que incluyen un programa de becas y programas de enriquecimiento de las oportunidades educativas y vocacionales para estudiantes hispanos/latinos. Tambien,
CONEXIONES ha publicado informes que incluyen informacion demografica de los estudiantes hispanos/latinos en las escuelas primarias, intermedias y medias. Voluntarios de CONEXIONES reunen con oficiales del sistema educativo y con lideres de la comunidad para mejorar los servicios disponibles a los estudiantes hispanos/latinos en todos los niveles educativos.
Los objetivos globales de CONEXIONES son:
* Infundir a los estudiantes hispanos/latinos que terminen su educacion media y
considerar entrar en una educacion superior
* Patrocinar un fondo de becas para proveer premios monetarios para estudiantes
destacados que estan graduandose de high school
* Aumentar la sensibilidad hacia el estudiante hispano/latino del personal
educativo y comunidad en las necesidades educativas
* Proveer ayuda academica y ayuda de lenguaje a los estudiantes
* Recomendar a las escuelas publicas del Condado Howard nuevas iniciativas que
responden a las necesidades de estudiantes hispanos/latinos
* Seguir estudiando el movimiento de grado a grado de los estudiantes hispanos/
latinos hacia la graduacion de la educacion media
* Publicar gratis un noticiero bilingue y bimensual para la comunidad hispana y para
otros interesados.
* Celebrar la herencia hispana/latina con actividades apropiados
* Animar a los padres de familia y a los encargados de estudiantes
hispanos/latinos que participen en el proceso educativo
Contact information:
P.O. Box 433
Columbia, MD 21045
simonjuana@aol.com
(410) 997-7702
Charles County Public Schools Lifelong Learning Center in cooperation with College of Southern Maryland
Funded through the State of Maryland, the Charles County Public Schools Lifelong Learning Center provides a multitude of services for the adult learner. Some of the services offered include ESL, GED, ABE, GED Practice Test, External Diploma Program, Family Literacy, and vocational assessments. Outreach Family Literacy programs are provided in several locations in Waldorf and La Plata.
ESL services are provided in Waldorf. After an initial interview, students are placed into an appropriate level class. Classes meet twice per week for 2 ½ hour sessions. Classes are offered during the day and evening from Monday through Thursday. Childcare for children age 5 months to 5 years is available for daytime classes. Advanced ESL classes are offered through the College of Southern Maryland.
Classes are limited to approximately 10 students. Students may enter or exit the program at any time. The classes use a variety of resources from the internet and TOEFL software to a variety of texts and teacher or student gathered realia. Presently the center offers 10 ESL classes. Over 300 ESL students are serviced each year. The students come from a variety of backgrounds with various levels of English. The breakdown is 30% Hispanic; 30% Oriental; and 30% other languages.
Contact Information:
12300 Vivian Adams Drive
Waldorf, Maryland
Phone: 301-753-1774
Fax: 301- 645-4863
e-mail: esinnes@ccboe.com
ESOL Teachers:
S. Adams
F. Bryner
C. Sienkiewicz
P. Pederson
J. Tucker
M. HagemanIn Charles County all students, grades K-12, who come here from a country where standard English is not the national language and/or have a second language influence is tested in English proficiency by the Office of Foreign Language and ESOL. They are tested using the MSDE-mandated IPT test within 30 days of registration. Students who transfer from another ESOL program are also tested. Students who are identified as English Language Learners (ELL) receive direct services with an ESOL teacher.
Charles County currently has a pullout program for ESOL students in grades 1- 8. Teachers work on oral language with students- listening, speaking, reading and writing. In high school, grades 9-12, there is a regular, credited (elective) class for students. Each ESOL teacher teaches one class at the high school level. There is currently an ESOL I and an ESOL II class available at each high school. The ESOL office in Charles County is generally charged with “putting out fires” and assisting parents of ESOL students in any way possible.
In addition to testing and teaching, the ESOL staff act as liaisons between school and home and administration and teachers. They provide teacher training and resource materials. They provide fieldtrips for ESOL students; communicate with parents about state notification letters and other legal concerns (in English and the native language when possible); and collect and file data for state reports.Contact information:
Charles County Public Schools
Division of Instruction
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Foreign Languages and ESOL
5980 Radio Station Road
LaPlata, MD 20646
301-932-6610
cweirich@ccboe.com
Charlotte Weirich: ESOL Specialist
The American English Language Program, Montgomery Community College
In the mid-1970s, Montgomery College’s Takoma Park campus saw a dramatic influx of Iranian students without the English language skills needed to pass the college’s core courses. At that time, the college had no language support for those whose L1 wasn’t English, and so it began what was then called Communication for Non-Native Speakers of English. The program began with three progressively difficult levels of English composition, two levels of reading skills, and the beginning of a learning center, offering help with reading skills. Either prescient or fortuitous, what is now the American English Language Program (AELP) serves students from 170 countries, speaking well over 300 languages. As a matter of fact, well over half the of Montgomery College’s students are now foreign-born, and the AELP has expanded to all the campuses. “Its growth,” says Bette Daudu, former director of AELP and Chair of the Takoma Park Department of English, “is affected by the immigration rate and, in particular, by the students who were brought to the U.S. as children and attended ESOL programs in the public schools.”
To date, AELP is a multi-tiered, core-course program of composition, reading, speaking, and listening skills. The Learning Labs provide tutors and computer programs for grammar, writing, and vocabulary development. Foreign-born students, and those who self-identify as speaking a first language other than English, are required to take the Michigan Test, the college’s language placement test, on admission to the school. Depending on those results, they are placed in the appropriate reading and composition classes. The AELP courses are non-credit but required before students can pass into the required English composition courses. All of AELP’s offerings are designed to help students succeed and eventually compete in their English-based classes with the native born students. “It’s not only cultural,” says Daudu. “It’s about becoming participants.” Students with no English language skills are not admitted to Montgomery College.
Takoma Park’s AELP students–unlike those on the other Montgomery College campuses–are taught by faculty within the English Department. Each course is a combination of writing and reading, as well as grammar and speaking. From the first day of class, students are writing. By the time they are enrolled in EL 104, the highest composition course in the AELP, they are writing weekly 500-word essays and reading novels. “There are two kinds of success in this program–the students who come in and need a more formal standard of English than they would get in adult education classes or literacy classes,” says Daudu, “and those who are preparing for white collar jobs and service jobs, like nursing.” The success of the program is encouraging. Of those who pass a required competency test after EL 104, and who then enroll in EN 101, the first of two, for-credit, required English composition courses, 70 percent go on to complete their goals, either for their AA degree or a transfer to a four-year university.
Contact information:
The American English Language Program, Montgomery Community College, campuses in Rockville, Takoma Park, and Germantown, Maryland
(301) 279-5000
www.mc.md.us/Department/AELP
The Resource Center for Language and Culture (RCLC)
The Resource Center for Language and Culture (RCLC) at UMBC is an excellent source for providing library materials and services to those interested in teaching and learning of English, and other languages. Once an individual registers, free of charge, all resources and services may be taken advantage of. Books are available to be checked out for a time period of three weeks. The library resources include texts for K-12 and adult ESL classes, foreign language texts, dictionaries, and materials, bilingual and cross-cultural children’s literature, curriculum guides, video tapes on subjects including language proficiency testing, cultures, teaching ESL and foreign languages, and various software, periodicals, and journals. The center also provides business, consulting, employment, and software demonstration services.
Contact information:
The Resource for Language and Culture
Department of Education
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
Telephone: 410-455-3694
Fax: 410-455-1139
Website: http://www.umbc.edu/rclc
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The Baltimore County Office of World Languages
Baltimore County Office of World Languages offers several educational opportunities for language minority students as well as students learning a new language. For ESOL students in particular, they offer several services, including: ESOL instruction in elementary schools, ESOL centers for secondary schools, ESOL classes for adults learning English, and in-service training for professional personnel in schools. This office provides services to individuals, their families, and the schools to which these students attend. Also, the Office of World Languages provides assessment of ESOL students through testing of English proficiency, evaluation of foreign transcripts, and recommendations for grade level placement. All information and documentation is kept confidential and students are given assistance through the programs at their schools as well as contact with their families by the office and its personnel, which may include translators, teacher, support staff, and government workers.
Contact Information:
Office of World Languages of Baltimore County
Milford Mill Academy
Northwest Office
3800 Washington Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21244
Office Phone 410-887-0688 Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:30pm
Adult ESOL 410-285-9453
Or ask your school’s Foreign Language Chairman
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Carroll Community College provides many services for ESOL students. The college offers classes to students who want to improve their English skills. Classes are offered from beginning to advanced levels. There is no registration fee for beginning and intermediate ESOL classes. The college offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced ESOL classes in reading, writing, and grammar. They also offer classes in business, and personal writing, TOEFL preparation and pronunciation classes for ESOL students.
Mrs. Becky Murio is the ESOL coordinator at Carroll Community College. She can be reached on Monday and Thursday at the college.Contact Information:
Carroll Community College
1601 Washington Road
Westminster, MD 21157
http://www. carrollcc.eduRegistration is held at Community College Annex, 300 South Center Street, Westminster, MD.
Telephone: 410-386-8021
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St. Vincent De Paul Society of Baltimore was founded in 1865. It is one of Maryland’s oldest charitable organizations and a pioneer in the development of social programs and the advocacy of social justice. A faith based charity that is affiliated with the Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul serves all people without regard to race, religion, or national origin. St. Vincent de Paul is an independent, non profit organization that strives to renew and adapt itself to the changing needs of those it serves.
Contact Information:
Larry McBee
43 Monroe Street
Westminster, MD. 21157
Telephone: 410-848-8693
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Carroll County Public School system has several programs that can serve the needs of ESOL students and their families. The ESOL Department, Families Learning Together, and the Community Learning Center programs all come under the division of the Carroll County Public Schools Minority Achievement and Intervention Programs, Director, Pamela Ayres.
The ESOL Department is currently serving approximately 130 ESOL students in grades K-12 for the school year 2002-2003. At the elementary and middle school level, grades K-8, beginning ESOL students are usually given individualized language arts instruction by a trained ESOL teacher or Language Arts Specialist for a period of time during the day. Students then attend classes with their grade level peers supported by the Language Arts Specialist and classroom teacher. Because Carroll County’s Integrated Language Arts (ILA) program is, by definition, designed to integrate the fur areas of language skill-listening, speaking, reading, and writing, most intermediate and advanced ESOL students remain in their classroom for ILA, while receiving support from the Language Arts Specialist. At the high school level, ESOL students enroll in a one-credit course that receives foreign language credit. These courses, ESOL I, II, III, or IV are taught by trained ESOL teachers and are designed to meet the academic needs of secondary level English language learners. For the year 2001-2002, the county served students with twenty different languages.
For the school year 2002-2003, the Families Learning Together program is providing childcare for families of ESOL who wish to learn English. On Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00 PM, childcare is provided at Robert Moton Elementary School. The Families Learning Together program is collaborating with Carroll Community College to provide this program to the families of ESOL students. Carroll Community College’s ESOL teachers teach the families English at Robert Moton while the children are being cared for by the Families Learning Together program’s personnel. The contact person for this program is Sue Lysy, 410-751-3931, at the Families Learning Together program.
The Carroll County Community Learning Centers provide another opportunity for the county’s ESOL student population to learn English. This after school program is open to all students attending Robert Moton Elementary, Sykesville Middle School, New Windsor Middle School, West Middle School, and Westminster High School. This program provides after-school activities starting with snack, socialization, and academic time, recreational and cultural activities. Academic time includes homework, skill practice, reading, writing, and math practice with teachers. The English Language Learners language skills can be enhanced through the social and academic activities. For information, contact Lynda Gainor at 410-386-4449.
Contact Information:
Pamela Mesta
ESOL Coordinator
Carroll County Public Schools
125 North Court Street
Westminster, MD. 21157
Telephone: 410-751-3173Robert Moton Elementary School
1413 Washington Road
Westminster, MD. 21157
Telephone: 410-751-3927
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The Office of Multicultural Services at McDaniel College
The McDaniel College’s Office of Multicultural Services is located on the 3rd floor of Elder Dice. Its primary function is to provide services to students of color while working with the college community to ensure the campus environment is supportive of learning for everyone. It provides personal mentoring and academic advising for the students. This is a function undertaken with liaison with the relevant faculties in the college. It also provides small group dialogues where members of a group may meet and discuss problems affecting them within the college and chart a way forward.
To ensure enlightenment about world cultures, the Office of Multicultural Services organizes educational and cultural programs where prominent personalities are invited to give insightful talks on their respective cultures. Prominent personalities who have visited the college through these programs include the African American Nikki Giovanni, Raul Yzaguirre, and Hector Cantú. Recently, the office organized a successful visit by a Maasai culture group of Kenya. Such activities not only give college community a chance to appreciate the different cultures of the world first hand, but to develop understanding of misinterpretations and misrepresentations that may have existed hitherto.
The office also helps students with information on internships and graduate school. To achieve these ends, the office works hand in hand with the following student organizations on campus:Allies: an organization found to provide understanding between the gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, and transsexual communities.
Asian Community Coalition (A.C.C.): the purpose of this organization is to educate people in general, celebrate the Asian culture, build community with Asian students, and to dispel myths and stereotypes about Asian culture.
The Black Student Union (B.S.U.): the purpose of this organization is to educate McDaniel College and the surrounding community on the heritage of black cultures worldwide, and to serve as a support system for members and those who express an interest in the organization’s goals.
The Hispano Latino Alliance (H.L.A.): the purpose of this organization is to promote Hispanic and Latino culture on the McDaniel campus and surrounding communities. The group achieves this through a medium of speakers, trips, and social functions. The organization is open to all who are interested in promoting these goals.
The International Club: their purpose is to promote friendship and understanding between international and non-international students at McDaniel College. This group promotes cross cultural and international awareness among its members and the community, and represents the interest of the international student body at McDaniel College.
The Jewish Student Union (J.S.U.): the purpose of the organization is to provide an environment of learning as well as sharing the Jewish culture with other students.
The Multicultural Student Association (M.S.A.): the goal of this organization is to promote multiculturalism at McDaniel College. They share ideas and thoughts from different cultures and organize activities to educate students on diversity.
Sounds of Silence: this organization provides an open forum where those with an interest in American Sign Language and deaf education meet.
Women’s Issues Group (W.I.G.): encourages tolerance and diversity among all people. It does not condone nor support discrimination especially as it relates to gender. Its purpose is to educate the campus about issues pertaining to women, and to celebrate women of all cultures.
The Office of Multicultural Services is open to anyone interested in promoting cultural diversity and celebration of all cultures represented on the McDaniel College campus.
Contact Information:
Ms. Zephia Bryant
Director of Office of Multicultural Services
McDaniel College
2 College Hill
Westminster, MD. 21157
Telephone: 410-857-2777
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Foreign-born Information and Referral Network
FIRN’s mission statement is “to assist recent immigrants to Howard County, Maryland, in the slow and sometimes frustrating process of becoming Americans.” To that end, they provide newly-arrived immigrants with support in accessing government and health services, job counseling, housing and resettlement assistance, document translation, ESOL classes, and immigration issues. They are viewed by many as a sort of “safe house” for immigrants who must navigate through the 4 to 10 year wait typical for achieving citizenship. Most clients utilize FIRN’s services during their first 2-3 years in the County. FIRN’s proximity to both Howard Community College and Howard County Hospital help them network efficiently with those institutions.
FIRN’s executive director describes the challenges facing recent immigrants to Howard County as a process of learning to “negotiate the system.” FIRN’s assistance can extend from helping a family with telephone installation, to assisting a recent middle to upper income immigrant in establishing credit in the United States. FIRN began as a “grass roots” assistance movement for immigrants, refugees and “asylees” in the early 1980’s. Their successful track record in providing support for immigrants since then has made them a well-known resource in Howard County.
FIRN executives network regularly with other Howard County-based organizations, including Conexiones, a Hispanic/Latino group which concerns itself primarily with educational issues. FIRN receives major financial aid and other supports from Howard County Government, the United Way of Central Maryland, the Horizon Foundation and the Columbia Foundation, as well as from local, individual donors. to The changing demographics and immigration patterns of Howard County are the focus of interest for FIRN at this time, as they strive to meet the needs of a diverse population.
Contact Information:
FIRN - Foreign-born Information and Referral Network
5999 Harper’s Farm Road, Suite E-200
Columbia, Maryland 21044
(410) 992-1923
Toll free: (888)399-3476
Web site: http://www.firnonline.org
Calvert Country Public Schools
I work in Calvert County and decided to interview the coordinator for the county's ESOL program, Kelly Moffatt.
The number of students serviced varies from day to day. Currently, there are 87 students in the CCPS ESOI program and there are 15 students that are being monitored. Monitoring means students' report cards are monitored and twice a year teacher feedback forms and interviews are conducted to see how the classroom teacher feels the students is performing.Students are recommended to the program for several reasons. It might be because of the home language survey (completed by parents on the school's registration, parent interviews, foreign passport or birth certificate, or because they have received services from somewhere else. Students qualify because they show to be limited English proficient on the ESOL intake testing. Parents are given a letter of notification to sign if they choose to waive the right for their child to receive services.
She stated that the program is done through pull-out, but a few students receive services through immersion. The students serviced through immersion are pre-k and k students who need to be in the classroom so that they can develop the social language skills. They are not in as much need of the academic skills at that time, so the teachers go to the student's classroom and work alongside the teacher. The students that are pulled out for instruction are pulled out of whatever class they happen to be in when the ESOL teacher is in the school. All students in one school are pulled out at the same time regardless of English proficiency level or academic grade level. Students receive about an hour of service daily.
She stated that she and her staff are working to develop better outreach opportunities and family literacy programs. There is a referral service to recommend parents to adult ESL classes and she works closely with adult education for these programs and to enhance their enrollment. She is also doing needs assessments to determine the services parents need in order to be active participants in their children's educational careers.
There is a reference about CCPS's ESOL program on the CCPS homepage (www.calvertnet.k12.md.us).
Contact Information:
Kelly Moffatt
Program Coordinator
(410) 535-7389Calvert County Public Schools
ESOL Office at Huntingtown Creek Annex
Huntingtown, MD
Center for International and Multicultural Students at Montgomery College-Germantown Campus
The Center for International and Multicultural Students is a multi-functional office dedicated to the needs of students who either are currently studying at Montgomery College or would like to enroll. The agency helps students obtain visas, sign up for and pass the Michigan English Fluency Test, choose coursework, obtain loans, and in general navigate all the various aspects of living and studying in the United States, (a foreign country).
Maria Garcia is a counselor there. She provides individual counseling on a variety of issues including the ones mentioned above, and also assists with living arrangements, cultural adaptations, use of free time, goal setting, study habits, and virtually any issue that a student may have concerns with.
The office also provides a social contact with periodic functions and discussion groups for the international students to participate in.
Montgomery College also sponsors the Hispanic Business Institute. This organization offers classes in Spanish to the community in subjects such as construction, Quick Books 1 & 2, legal assistance, certification for food handlers, OSHA, and clerical/ office worker training. For more information about this program you can contact Liliana Arango at (301)962-8934 or email at larango@mc.cc.md.us
Contact Information:
Maria Garcia
International Advisor
mgarcia@mc.cc.md.us
http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Center for International and Multicultural Students
Montgomery College – Germantown Campus
Science and Applied Studies Bldg. Room 150
20200 Observation Drive
Germantown, MD 20876
301-353-1975
301-353-1923 (FAX)
The York County Literacy Council (YCLC)
The York County Literacy Council (YCLC) serves all of York County, as well as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) situated two blocks away. Programs and services include the Adult Reading Program, English as a Second Language Program, Family Reading Programs, Computer Lab and Library, Special Events/Fundraisers, Workplace Program, and Volunteer Opportunities. YCLC estimates that over 40,000 York County residents struggle with English language skills.
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered free of cost at the beginning, intermediate and advanced intermediate levels at several locations throughout York City in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Classes are approximately two hours long with a coffee break to allow for an enjoyable socialization time. Enrollment ranges from 10 to 15 students per class. In the ESL classes I was fortunate to observe, students were from such countries as the Ukraine, Madagascar, Columbia, Senegal, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Native American. For adults, services include: individual literacy skills assessment, and individual tutoring in the basic skills of reading, writing, spelling, reading comprehension, and math. For parents and children, services involve training parents how to encourage their children’s reading and success in school, the Literacy Improves Family Education (LIFE) model, and Books on Buses program with local schools. Employer services consist of workplace classes customized to the employer’s needs: ESL, basic math, and writing, workplace tutoring for individual workers, and workforce skills assessment.
One of the highlights of YCLC, I feel, is their LIFE program, which is based on the fact that parents are their children’s first teachers and their most important role models. When parents are involved in learning, they are better able to help their children prepare for and succeed in school. At the same time, parents gain skills that help them in their jobs and assist them to be better parents. They also teach their children that learning is a lifelong activity. The goal is to enable families to acquire and/or improve essential literacy skills together. In sum, the York County Literacy Council is a very rich learning environment.
Contact Information:
York County Literacy Council
800 East King Street
York, PA 17403
717-845-8719
717-699-5620 (Fax)
www.yorkliteracy.org
Partners for success is a program that provided services for families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. The goal of the program is to provide unlimited support to families in order for their Deaf and Hard of Hearing children to reach their full potential in all areas of life. In addition, Partners for Success seeks to provide support and guidance for families with whom having a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child is a new experience. Partners for Success believes that when parents’ concerns are understood and met, that in turn, parents will be better able to meet the needs and concerns of their Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.
Partners for Success provides several key services for families. One of the strongest aspects of the program is the Parent to Parent network. The Parent to Parent network seeks to match experiences parents (Deaf or hearing) with parents who have just recently found out that their child is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The program matches families based on background, circumstances, and interests in order to create a compatible match. The families regularly meet for outings or to discuss issues relating to their shared experiences. The Parent to Parent network supports parents as they encounter the concerns, joys and frustrations of raising a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child. In addition, Partners for success also provides Deaf mentors for hearing families that are interested in using American Sign Language to communicate with their child. The Deaf mentor regularly visits the home and interacts with the family and child using ASL. The goal is to provide hearing parents with different ways to visually interact with their child in order to alleviate communicative frustrations. Partners for Success also provides regular workshops, trainings and materials regarding family relationship, Special Education jargon and procedures, and other issues related to parents’ needs.
Partners for Success is located on the campus of Maryland School for the Deaf in Columbia, Maryland. For further information regarding the program, please feel free to contact the program coordinators, Cheri Dowling (parent coordinator) or Maryann Swann (education coordinator) by phone, email or fax. Cheri Dowling is also a hearing mother of a Deaf son, and has a wealth of experiences, information and resources to share with other parents. She is committed to providing families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children with the full support and resources that are available to ensure their success.
Contact Information:
Cheri Dowling (parent coordinator)
Maryann Swann (education coordinator)
P0 Box 894
Columbia, MD 21044
Partners@msd.eduPhone/Fax Numbers:
410-480-4597 (v/tty)
410-480-4598 (fax)
The Parent Resource Center, sponsored by the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County, is a place for parents, caregivers, and young children to learn and have fun together. It operates on a drop-in basis and is open on Monday and Wednesday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. The membership fee is $50 with scholarships available. This Center is one of five in the county and the membership fee entitles families to use all five centers.
The center has a multitude of toys, books, and learning games. Special activities are arts and crafts projects and Circle Time (music and stories). There are books, magazines, articles, and other resources for parents in both English and Spanish. In addition, parents can get help with parenting problems and other concerns. The bulletin board is filled with names and addresses of people and resources of use to parents including special activities in local libraries and parks, job opportunities, places to get help with specific problems, and upcoming activities at the Center. There are also many health and child-rearing brochures (vaccinations, breathing problems, toilet training, etc.) strategically placed around the room, as well as information for parents on jobs, housing, and transportation. Notices and brochures are written in both English and Spanish. The center radiates a cozy and caring atmosphere, conducive to asking questions and discussing concerns.
Contact Information:
Contact Person: Mary VanderHart
Parent Resource Center
Clopper Mill Elementary School
Portable 1
18501 Cinnamon Drive
Germantown, Md. 20874
(240)876-5235
The Brethren Service Center is a very interesting place located right here in Carroll County, Maryland. They offer many services and are linked with numerous non-profit organizations around the state and the world. They work with many local churches to provide aide for all denominations of people in need. They are owned and operated by the Church of the Brethren General Board and they work in areas of relief and development, disaster response, social justice, and peace education. The facilities in New Windsor house the New Windsor Conference Center, Emergency Response/Service Ministries, SERRV International, Inc., On Earth Peace Assembly (OEPA) and the administrative office of Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc. (I.M.A.). They offer medical relief and disaster help around the world, take donations and package and ship items to war torn countries, and most importantly, work with refugees, migrants and immigrants here in the United States. Their services are based on local church groups that can adopt migrant or refugee families and aid them through the help of the Brethren Service Organization.
On staff they have people that speak many different languages and can easily find the help that one may need. If they can not help you themselves, they are prepared to direct you to the path you need to take. The have health and development programs as well as organizations aimed at helping people financially, such as SERRV which imports crafts from underdeveloped countries, sells them here, and sends the profits back to the individuals who made them. This organization embodies all of the virtues that one might be seeking and is a great starting place for non-English speaking families who must first meet their basic needs before attempting to settle in and educate their children. The groups and churches with which the Brethren Service Center works will help provide families with security, financial and medical aid, and then proper education. If you are new to this country and looking for aid, they are a great place to begin your new life.
Contact Information:
Brethren Service Center
New Windsor, MD
410-876-2263
410-848-0990
http://www.brethren.org/genbd/BSC
Community Agency School Services
CASS, or Community Agency School Services, is an outreach program of
Frederick County Public Schools. The program works with families of children
under 18 years of age, and works to bring services and collaboration from
public, private, and government organizations. Examples of CASS services
families might receive are: substance abuse counseling, parenting seminars,
health care, prescription costs, family counseling, financial assistance, and
employment help.The 2 major facets of CASS are resource and case management, and program
development - bringing programs to communities (such as counselors in the
schools, and PAL - police to the communities).No specific qualifications must be met in order to qualify for
assistance, however, CASS requires that people who are seeking help initiate
contact rather than CASS workers solicitating services.CASS began in 1991, and is mostly funded by contributions from Frederick
County Government, local private groups and organizations, and "in-kind"
contributions (i.e. utilities, phone, and free space to house programs).I have personally seen CASS make a difference in the lives of some of
our ESL families.Contact Information:
Pam Miller
(301) 696-6971
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