HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11081994 - 1.7 (2) t- 70
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Anne Marie Gold, County Librarian
DATE: October 20, 1994
SUBJECT: AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BORN TO READ GRANT
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve the County Librarian's application for a $30,000 grant from the American Library Association to
establish a Born to Read Program in partnership with the Contra Costa County Health Services Department
effective November 1, 1994.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
In-kind contributions will be made by the County Library and the Health Services Department to the project
for administrative staff time, space and some supplies.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Library and the Contra Costa County Health Services Department are applying
for$30,000 from the American Library Association to establish a Born To Read program serving the women
and families in the County's Born Free program, a substance abuse intervention and recovery program for
pregnant women and new mothers who are patients at Merrithew Memorial Hospital, the Pittsburg Health
Clinic and the Richmond Health Center. The Born To Read partnership between the library and the Born
Free program will combine direct services and training to the mothers, parenting consultants, and child care
providers in the Born Free program with the development of the capability for the children's librarians to offer
special programs which help parents introduce their babies to appropriate literature, how to interpret child
reactions, select appropriate material and understand the developmental steps they observe in their child.
The Born to Read program will provide the following benefits:
• help parents recognize their children's emerging literacy skills from birth and to help their children
grow into their love of reading
• provide a protective factor around the second generation so that they are more competent and
motivated to do well in school
• empower parents to become involved with their children's reading even if they don't read
• enhance the recovery of women in the program by increasing their interest and competency in reading
and life skills
increase the self-esteem of mothers and give them the self-confidence that they are parenting well
• increase positive interaction between mothers in the program and their children
• reduce intrafamily tensions and violence which are linked to low self-esteem and low skills
• decrease the isolation of women in the program by providing them with a set of role models
• train children's librarians to be able to offer lap sit programs as a way of introducing very young
children to reading and books
Continued on Attachment: SIGNATURE:
_RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
_RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
_APPROVE _OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON NOV APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED_ OTHER_
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
✓UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
AYES: NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
ABSENT.- ABSTAIN. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Attested NOV 8 19%
Contact: Anne Cain, 646-6423 Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the
Board of Supervisors and
CC: County Library County Administrator
County Administrator
r`
County Auditor By Deputy Clerk
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