A growing body of research indicates a strong literacy correlation between parent and child. The educational background of the parent influences the child’s initial study habits, and in the pre-school years, parents can have a powerful influence on the reading ability of their children. Academic success is not determined by socio-economic status, but rather by what parents do to help their children learn.

Family Literacy programs help establish and entrench the value of literacy in every family, by helping parents and educators understand that the home is the child’s first learning environment and the parent or primary care-giver is the child’s first and most influential teacher. The more literate a parent or primary caregiver becomes, the more able they are to provide a home environment that effectively supports the child’s educational development and well-being.

To date, there are more than 60 family literacy programs and services in British Columbia, and the numbers are growing. This issue celebrates the valuable work being done in six of these programs. We have also included examples of what programs have planned for family literacy day and week. Literacy BC, in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library and the Vancouver School Board, will celebrate Family Literacy Day with a kick-off breakfast, which we have called Family Literacy 2000 “Breakfast of Champions”. More than 50 key representatives from government, business, labour, unions, education and community organizations will attend. For more details see page 12, for a summary of Family Literacy Week in the Lower Mainland.

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