San Rafael Public Library Marin County Free Library Marin Literacy Program Inmate Literacy Services –FATHERS/MOTHERS Program –Inmate-to-Inmate Tutoring –Community Volunteer Tutoring & Video Learning groups –Library Services San Quentin State Prison & Marin County Jail Jane Curtis

Programming at County Jail & State Prison Jail programming funded by Marin County Sheriff’s Department San Quentin programming Funded by Private Foundations

Some Statistics Children who have a close relative who is incarcerated are five times more likely to be incarcerated themselves. The more an inmate participates in education programs while incarcerated, the lower his recidivism rate. Children whose parents lack literacy skills are twice as likely to be non- readers themselves.

Break the cycle of low literacy and incarceration. Be a positive role model. Be your child’s first teacher. Empower your child with the tools to make good decisions in life. Use children’s books to teach – skills, attitudes, behavior. Program Goals Fathers As Teachers: Helping, Encouraging, Reading, Supporting Mothers, Our Teachers : Helping, Encouraging, Reading, Supporting F.A.T.H.E.R.S./M.O.T.H.E.R.S. Program

Program Elements 15 hours or more of classroom instruction in family literacy and parenting Children’s picture books used in each lesson for instruction, discussion and read aloud practice Gift Books selected by students for each child in his/her life Jail students read Gift Books on audiotapes for their children Prison students have visiting room storytimes and a children’s book collection there

F.A.T.H.E.R.S. Program Guide To order the guide from California State Library Foundation Go to click Publications click Literacy Or call

Best Practices Train and support all volunteers and staff in correctional awareness. Always comply with regulations at the correctional facility, even as they change. Establish clear ground rules for inmate attendance and behavior. Instruction should be both insight-based and skill- based.

Challenges High inmate turnover in jails. Difficult to track instructional hours and to define and measure success. Danger of over-familiarity with community volunteers and staff. Limited time for tutoring.

For a copy of this PowerPoint Contact Jane