[yscon] Literacy partnerships with correctional facilities

[Yates, Beth]

Merri,

The Indiana State Library coordinates a similar program with our Department of Correction.  It’s called Read-to-Me.  I do not personally coordinate it but could put you in touch with the person/department that does if you have specific questions for them!

Here is info from our website:  http://www.in.gov/library/RTM.htm
And a PDF of our printable brochure:  http://www.in.gov/library/files/Brochure_RTM_2014.pdf

Just let me know if we can help you further.

Best,

Beth Yates
Children’s Consultant
Professional Development Office
Indiana State Library
140 N. Senate Ave
Indianapolis, IN  46204
byates at library.in.gov<mailto:suwalker at library.in.gov>
317.517.1738<tel:317.517.1738>

From: yscon [mailto:yscon-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Monks, Merri
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 11:58 AM
To: Youth Services Consultants <yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [yscon] Literacy partnerships with correctional facilities


Hi everyone,

I've just learned about a program in Iowa called The Storybook Project that is coordinated by the Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa (https://www.vnsia.org/mothers-children-families/storybookproject/default.aspx).  This program enables incarcerated parents, via the assistance of a VNSIA staff member or volunteer and a digital recording device, to read a book to their child.  The recording is burned onto a CD and sent, with the book, to the child.  Psrents can do this once a month.  When the incarcerated parent is released, he or she is given a backpack of books, matching the ages of their children, to foster opportunities to continue reading in the family.  Here is an article, published in the Des Moines Register recently, about The Storybook Project:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/life/2017/05/11/storybook-incarcerated-mothers-iowa-reading/315476001/

There have been two correctional institutions involved -- one housing men, one women -- with a third one recently added (also for men).

While I asked a colleague a couple of years ago in the Department of Education whether there was anything along these lines in Iowa, I was told at that time that he didn't know of anything.  (I had read about a similar program in Minnesota).  However, this program has been ongoing for 20 years, without any apparent collaboration with the State Library and/or the public libraries in the state.

I'm attempting to change that.  The conference planning committee of the Iowa Library Association is looking for a way to include a session with the coordinators of this program at our fall conference (the program is filled--and if not this year, then next year), and I'm hoping also to produce a webinar for our public libraries, informing them of The Storybook Project and suggesting ways they may participate.  I'm still sorting through the details of how this can best work, and am sending this email to inquire whether any of you have worked on projects collaborating efforts like this on a statewide basis?

Thanks,

Merri

Merri Monks Youth Services Consultant
State Library of Iowa | Des Moines Office
515.281.7572 | Merri.Monks at iowa.gov<mailto:Merri.Monks at iowa.gov>
1112 E. Grand Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50319
www.StateLibraryofIowa.org<http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/>

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