Adult Education Community Planning

WARE, MA

Jan 17, 2002

Advisory Board

Young Men's Library Association

WHS

WHS

School-Linked Services

Mary Lane Hospital

SABES

Ware Police

Quaboag Valley CDC

Town of Ware Community Dev. Dept

Ware Coalition

Quaboag Valley CDC

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

YWCA of W. Mass

Key Participants or Populations

- funding agencies

- Businesses & employers - particularly those with non English speaking employees (Warren Cleaners, Wrights, Kanzaki, Berkshire Blanket)

- Teen Parents

- Schools - Ware High School (guidance counselors) Elementary & Middle Schools (Perhaps contact *Beth Gannon at SMK. She is the Literacy Coordinator there.)

- *Parents * Coalition Members

- Teachers and parents dealing with Literacy Problems w/students (drop outs)

- Adult /Children reading program

- population of Ware, Warren, Hardwick, Brookfield

- Minority Populations in Ware (Quaboag Mill employees & other surrounding areas)

- High school students "at risk" for literacy problems (drop outs)

- Ware Coalition meeting- local agencies who could perhaps help Adult Ed Center and its students

- community groups

- Ware Dist. Court - Judges Dusek-Gomez & Miranda (Juvi judge)

- Physicians - referrals

- WIC

- Young Men's Library Association

- School-Linked Services

- Mary Lane Hospital

- SABES

- Ware Police

- Quaboag Valley CDC

- Town of Ware Community Dev. Dept

- Pioneer Valley Planning Association

- YWCA of W. Mass

Key Questions or Topics

- Relationships with public education/higher education

- Workforce development / job placement activities

- Outreach to community

- Transportation

- How many people are in need of the ABE Services?

- How much $ would it cost to fulfill that need

- Geographic location of those in need - transportation needs

- Would participants need childcare, specific hours of operation

- How can we PREVENT children from heading to literacy problems?

- What are some things that would prevent one from attending classes?

- How can the word be spread?

- How can the image be improved?

- More info Out of School Youth

- Enhance referral process

- WIC referrals

ASSETS & NEEDS

ASSETS - Adult Ed

ASSETS - Greater Ware

Town Shuttle Bus - could be used by students Doctors as possible referrers SABES Bi-annual Meetings with Ware Selectmen TLP Volunteer Training Program TLP Health Program Ware Connected Board members ABE becoming more institutionalized Energy/creativity of teens Good space downtown Can program to non traditional learning styles and multiple intelligences - Can be very flexible

Young Men's Library Association Ware Coalition Ware High School Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Quaboag Valley CDC Ware Community Development Department YWCA of W. Mass Mary Lane Hospital Employers realize they need to recruit locally Ware District Court Selectmen Food Bank WIC Radio stations (WFCR and 1250AM) Improved Housing Market 1996 WARE Industry Economy Study (Paul Hills) AWARE School to Career Program Managers could speak to students Palmer Literacy Volunteers Newspaper Laundries - place to put notices Ware Assoc meets 2^nd Wed of Month (Bobby McAvoy Energy/creativity of teens Employers will share entry level job skill requirements Migrant Workforce Location near turnpike

NEEDS - Adult Ed

NEEDS - Greater Ware

Better ways to serve Teen parents Better image for learners (name) Better ways to serve Migrant Workers Better ways to serve Homeless Systemize referrals to and from Adult Ed Students need time and Money to attend school Better outreach to non-typical learners Community Advisory Board More Community members on Literacy Project Board Coordination with Public Schools to prevent drop outs Video appealing to teens/non traditional students (with jobs, etc.) Transportation Involvement from Businesses Better tie-ins with community groups Better Communication with high schools (guidance counselors) Awareness of ENTIRE Service area Better Workforce development and work placement activities Better Connections to Palmer Literacy Volunteers Programming to multiple intelligences/non traditional students and learning styles

Teen parents juggling school, work, childcare Concern for image on part of learners and community Services to Homeless Drop out prevention programs Early literacy intervention programs Education for Teachers and parents On-site ESOL classes at workplaces ESOL Classes ESOL Tutors Transportation Businesses need recruits with good work ethic/attitude and basic literacy/numeracy skills Translators at the hospital (French, German, Polish, Chinese, Vietnamese)