Literacy West Virginia Membership

Literacy West Virginia provides technical support, training and resources to West Virginia adult and family literacy programs through a regional system. Six part time Regional Technical Assistants provide these services which include:

• Training opportunities for free, or at little cost, to programs. Some of these trainings are Train the Trainer, Special Learning Needs, CASAS.

• Expertise from Regional Technical Assistants to help with starting new literacy programs, assistance with grant writing, and guidance for new staff on state and community resources for collaborative opportunities, funding, volunteer and student recruitment, volunteer management etc.

• Advocacy and publicity for state-wide initiatives such as the Post Card campaign on International Literacy Day.

• Opportunities for representation on the Literacy West Virginia Board of Director Programs that receive services from Literacy West Virginia complete the ProLiteracy Annual Affiliate Report (AAR) in order to receive these services. Literacy West Virginia uses the data from the report to collect state wide data for the West Virginia Department of Education and to use for advocacy initiatives. The data in the AAR is similar to what is reported to local United Ways. It does not conflict with student or volunteer confidentiality. This is the only requirement of ProLiteracy America and Literacy West Virginia. Local programs serve the population in their communities that is determined by their Board of Directors and is stated in their mission. This includes children, youth and/or adults. Programs may use any curriculum of instruction that they choose. Programs are not required to be accredited. This is an optional service provided by ProLiteracy America. Trainers
are not required to be ProLiteracy certified. We recommend certification to maintain high standards of training, but local programs make this decision.

ProLiteracy America Membership

Benefits:
Credibility from belonging to a national professional organization
Network of 1200 affiliates as collective voice for literacy
Best and promising practices resources on the proliteracy.org website
Conference and training discounts
25% New Readers Press discount
Staples discount
Employee health insurance and retirement plans for full time staff
Free six-month individual membership for new tutors
Professional help setting up a planned giving program

Communications
Listservs- CONNECT and Trainers (to join contact Michele Diecuch at info@proliteracy.org)
Network News- monthly electronic newsletter
Website- www.proliteracy.org (including updates on Public Policy)
Litscape- three times a year
Literacy Advocate- three times a year

Training
Annual Conference
Regional Trainings
On-line Training
Verizon Literacy Campus
Trainer Certification
Training Consultants

For more information, contact judybowling@hotmail.com