Talking

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Books from Birth of Middle Tennessee Enhanced
Imagination Library Family Literacy Program
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BFBMTs Enhanced Imagination Library

• Purpose/Outcomes
• Family Literacy component complements Imagination
  Library and maximizes books benefits
• Extends reach and effectiveness, especially in
  underserved areas
• Raises awareness of importance of early childhood
  literacy and provides families with critical
  tools
• Provides local data for funders
• Increases time spent reading with children,
  strengthening family relationships
• Increases Imagination Library enrollment
• Involves volunteers and community
  partnerships/collaborations in meaningful way

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How did BFBMT develop the program?

• Program Development past 2 years
• Seed money (approx. 450,000)
• Hired FTE Family Literacy Coordinator
• Developed program around Imagination Library
  books
• Developed tools and training for parents based on
  national best practices (e.g., P.A.C.T.)
• Skilled volunteers and teachers are trainers
• Partnerships with local agencies
• Evaluation tools and reporting
• Much trial and error!
• Continued search for additional funding

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What is BFBMTs program?

• Tools and trainings are free for parents and
  caregivers
• Reading Activity Sheets for all Imagination
  Library books
• www.vanderbiltchildrens.com/booksfrombirth
• Examples of dialogic reading
• Activities, reading tips, parent tips, other
  books available at library
• Training in the community
• Focus on underserved areas
• Teaches dialogic reading strategy to
  parents/teachers
• Childcares, family resource centers, libraries,
  other partner agencies

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Example of Reading Activity Sheet
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What are the components?

• 1 hour 1.5 hour training
• Pre-survey (collect data about parents beliefs
  re reading to children)
• Research-based training of parents (or teachers)
  at a partner agency
• Parents practice new reading strategies with
  children
• Evaluation (participant survey post-survey data
  on behavior changes)

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Its Working!

• Better Together (United Way partnership)
• Other partnerships (community and home visits)
• Provides data to funders

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BFBMTs Next Steps

• Ongoing Development
• Train-the-Trainer component
• Packaging the program
• Training materials and learning tools, ongoing
  technical assistance
• Program evaluation and development
• Sustainable future funding
• Benefits to programs
• Expand reach and effectiveness
• Determine additional partnerships and
  collaborations (Imagination Libraries other
  early childhood organizations)
• Attract additional, more-diverse funding

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Contact (after Oct 2009)
Heather S. Smith, Family Literacy
Coordinator Books from Birth of Middle
Tennessee Heather.s.smith_at_vanderbilt.edu www.vande
rbiltchildrens.com/booksfrombirth