Literacy Outreach Receives Accreditation

Literacy Outreach has received approval for accreditation from ProLiteracy, a nonprofit educational organization that supports local literacy programs. Literacy Outreach was awarded accreditation by meeting the highest national standards put forth to volunteer literacy programs.

Literacy Outreach had to pass 16 standards to reach accreditation. Six revolved around organization management such as planning, fiscal responsibility and employee management. An additional six targeted student-centered services like recruitment, intake instructions, and involvement. The last four standards looked at tutors and instructors including recruitment, training, and supervision.

“We are very happy to be awarded accreditation from ProLiteracy. They are an excellent organization with a great reputation for supporting local literacy programs, such as ours. Literacy Outreach is proud to be recognized and we look forward to helping more individuals in our communities reach their literacy goals,” said Martha Fredendall, Executive Director for Literacy Outreach.

In the Accreditation Site Review Summary Form given to Literacy Outreach from ProLiteracy, the organization was commended for the mutually beneficial partnership with Garfield County Public Library District, their well-written and comprehensive strategic plan, and Literacy Outreach’s established connections with agencies, businesses, and individuals within the community.

Literacy Outreach was started in 1986 by a group of concerned citizens to meet the needs of people needing one-on-one literacy education and trained tutors to teach them. During the past 25 years, volunteers have provided weekly tutoring to over 1,400 clients.

Literacy Outreach is a grassroots non-profit organization combating adult illiteracy in Garfield County through individualized instruction. Professionally trained volunteers provide weekly tutoring to adults with reading skills below the fourth-grade level. Services are provided to traditional literacy students, who lack basic reading, writing and math skills and to English Language Learners (ELL).

Individualized instruction provides a flexible alternative to the traditional classroom and allows the students to continue their education in spite of demanding work schedules, long commutes and lack of transportation or childcare. In addition, Literacy Outreach has offered a series of financial literacy classes open to the public and students. Topics range from creating a spending plan, using credit, and even buying a home.

The goals of Literacy Outreach benefit all residents of Garfield County and the surrounding areas. Much of the population that fills the construction and service industry jobs, which are essential to the resort and retirement communities, is functionally illiterate. A better educated and, therefore, self-sufficient work force leads to increased productivity, lower crime rates and a lower school dropout rate.

For more information contact:
Martha Fredendall
Literacy Outreach Executive Director
(970) 945-5282
mfredendall@rof.net