Beyond Our Walls: Read Me a Story

Beyond Our Walls: Read Me a Story

Beyond Our Walls: Read Me a Story

A Family Literacy Program Provided by York County Libraries and the York County Prison, York PA

PALA Presentation

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

2:15-3:30

Getting Started

Talk with your library administrators to ensure that you have their support for the program.

We spend approximately 4 hours each week at the prison in addition to the preparation time.

Figure out your financial needs. How you are going to fund the program?

Making a Connection with the Prison

Set up a meeting with the Warden at the prison.

Be prepared to communicate your goals and toshare an outline of the program.

Be prepared to be flexible. Their rules will dictate what you are able to do.

Rules from prison to prison can vary.

Remember that safety and security are going to be at the forefront of their concerns.

Prisons can have ‘space’ issues, too.

An Outline of Our Program

Week OneWe meet withtwo groups each week. Each group has five parents for a total of ten parents each session.

  • Each incarcerated parent completes a library card application. Library cards are placedin an envelope with information about the York County Libraries. Staff at the prison place theses envelopes in the incarcerated parents’ belongings.
  • Introductions: We introduce ourselves first. We ask each participant to share his or her name, how many children they have and the ages of their children. We also ask if the children are boys or girls. In addition to helping us get to know each parent, this also helps us assist them in choosing a book if they ask for help.
  • We do short book talks for each title. After we are finished with this, they each choose their book. *The York County Prison has given special permission for them to write a message to their children inside of the book. *Check with your prison to see if they have special rules regarding this policy.
  • Hand out a ‘Lifebook’ for each child that parents complete if they choose to do so.
  • Week One Survey

Week TwoWe meet with two groups each week. Each group has five parents for a total of ten parents each session.

  • Discuss locations of libraries and resources your library can offer both them and their families.
  • We talk about brain development of children. Handouts are given from Every Child Ready to Read and we do a short version of the parent workshop using the handouts.
  • Additional resources that we share: Crispus Attucks Job Placement Program, WIC, Early Intervention, Sesame Street ‘incarcerated parent’ information
  • Complete cover letters that are included in the envelope sent home to their children. We ask the parents to write the name(s) and the address that the envelope will be sent to on the back of this paper. If they do not know the address, this gives them a week to find out.
  • Model the reading of a book. We read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kidsby Carol McCloud.

Week ThreeMeet withOne Parent at a Time

  • Audio Recording of Books

*The prison purchased the recording device that is used and a counselor from the prison staff is present during this session and operates the machine: Superscope Digital Audio System: EZ Recorder

  • What goes into the large mailing envelope?

Cover Letter

Book and the CD recording

Lifebook (if the parent chose to complete them)

Cruise Into Kindergarten Pamphlets

Program Survey for Caregivers

Information about the location and addresses of York County Libraries

  • Business Cards
  • Present each parent with a Certificate of Participation
  • Week Three Survey

Week Four*

Our local Crispus Attucks Center does a presentation about ‘soft skills’ and how they can make a good first impression at job interviews. They also talk about how they can help with job placement.

Inventory

Library Card Applications

Books (See Book List)

Every Child Ready to Read Handouts

‘Lifebooks’

  • This is a Story About Me and My Dad
  • This is a Story About Me and My Mom

Community Resource Handouts (WIC, Early Intervention, etc.)

Sesame Street Tips for Incarcerated Parents from:

Beyond Our Walls: Read Me a Story Program Survey Week One

Beyond Our Walls: Read Me a Story Program Survey Week Two

Beyond Our Walls: Read Me a Story Program Survey for Caregivers

Cover Letter (Introduces the caregiver to the program)

Packaging Envelopes

Legal Sized Return Envelopes

CD stickers

Bookmarks

Cruise into Kindergarten pamphlets

BOW book stickers

CD cases (*Multi-colored)

CDs

Book List

Goodnight Moonby Margaret Wise Brown

Not Norman: A Goldfish Storyby Kelly Bennett

Pancakes for Breakfastby TomiedePaola

Fire Engines by Anne Rockwell

The Bus for Usby Suzanne Bloom

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pigby Eugene Trivizas

The Very Busy Spiderby Eric Carle

Pete the Cat: Construction Destructionby James Dean

Pete the Cat: Go, Pete, Go! By James Dean

Pet Showby Ezra Jack Keats

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

*Titles may change depending on availability of paperbacks

Contact Information

Felicia Gettle

Children’s Coordinator

Lisa Schmittle

Children’s Program Manager

Valerie Conway

Deputy Warden of Treatment

York County Prison

Please contact Lisa or Felicia for Deputy Warden Conway’s contact information

Media Coverage

@YORKCOUNTYLIBRARIES

@YORKLIBRARIES

@YORKCOUNTYLIBRARIES

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