BROWARD BACKPACK(Homeless Adult Literacy Program)

PROGRAM: Broward Backpack: Homeless Adult Literacy Program
AGENCY: Broward County Public Schools
Vocational, Adult and Community Education (VACE)
CONTACT: Neeta E. Rancourt, VACE Curriculum Specialist
Luana Bassion, VACE Resource Teacher (954) 765-6619

PROGRAM MISSION:
This is a motivational program offered to homeless adults who need academic skills to become employed and self-sufficient. Each student who completes their GED, or passes another criteria assesed by the teacher is given a backpack filled with various products: personal hygiene items (e.g. shampoo, body lotion, razor, combs, etc.), school supplies (e.g. pens, paper, tablets, pocket dictionaries, etc.), snack foods (boxed juices, individual canned fruit, tuna, etc.) small games and paperback books. The "backpack" is used as a retention strategy.

SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM:
Currently, there are seven homeless shelters that are paired to existing adult centers and community schools in Broward County. A teacher provided by the school is assigned "on location" at the shelter. The four schools providing this service are: Fort Lauderdale Community School (serves three shelters), Old Dillard Community School (serves two shelters), North Area Adult Center (serves one shelter) and South Broward Community School (serves one shelter).
This is anentry/exit academic program (students may enter and exit the program at any time). The program runs continuously rather than on a semester system and class times are structured in such a way as to encourage as much participation among the shelter’s clients as possible. Some shelters offer morning, afternoon, evening, and Saturday classes. The class schedule is determined via a meeting between the school principal, the shelter director and the assigned teacher.

ELIGIBILITY:
A participant in the shelter program must meet the eligibility requirements for that shelter. Once a student in the program leaves a shelter, he/she is referred to an adult and community school, convenient to their new living arrangements, to continue their education.

FUNDING:
This program is funded through Broward County Public Schools’ Workforce Development Funds and supplemented through Adult and Family Literacy Grant funds provided by the Florida Department of Education to Broward County Public Schools.

FEES:
There are no fees to eligible participants.

Literacy Coalition of Broward County
1350 E. Sunrise Blvd. Suite 118 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
Fax:

Tutor hotline:
(Volunteer Broward)
To find out how to become a tutor

Student hotline:
(First Call for Help)
To refer a student to free literacy programs in Broward County

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