Needs addressed:
Three disadvantaged communities were identified as being underserved by library programs and resources. Young children in these communities (ages 2-3) have virtually no access to literacy events.

Target audience:

• A population of Hispanic origin, mostly recent immigrants from Central and South America in the communities of Patchogue and Medford
• Teen parents and their parents living on the Poosepatuck Indian reservation
• Low income Latino and African-American families living in Port Washington

Community partners and their roles:

• Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Port Washington Public Library, Patchogue Medford Library – contacted community partners, hired home visitors, purchased materials, evaluated program
• Vida Christian Outreach, Suffolk Network on Adolescent Pregnancy, LI Head Start, Colonial Youth and Family Services, S. Brookhaven Health Center, Poosepatuck Indian Reservation, Parent Resource Center, Port Washington Pre-Kindergarten, Littig House Community Center, National Center for the Mother-Child Home Program – all identified families and publicized the project

Specific activities:

• Contacts were made with local agencies in order to identify families and to publicize project
• Home visitors were hired to provide twice weekly home visits to families with children between the ages of 2-3 to demonstrate literacy and language practice
• Books and toys were purchased and distributed during the 26 week series of home visits
• Evaluation materials analyzed; families interviewed to assess impact

Staffing:

• Library Staff – Project Director – 5 days during planning stage plus 2 hours per week during grant period; Librarian (per site) 5 days during planning stage; Clerical (per site) 10 hours
• Project Staff – Home Visitor – 6hours per week (per site)

Costs:

• Salaries for Professional Staff - $1,500
• Salaries for Support Staff - $3,069
• Purchased Services - $5,000
• Supplies and Materials - $18,068.97

Evaluation:

• Quantitative Measures – Statistics kept on number of families and participants, number of weekly visits, number of materials distributed, number of library cards registered
• Qualitative Measures – anecdotal feedback, informal surveys, interviews

Changes/recommendations:

• Building rapport with the families takes time, grant should have been over a two year period
• Home visitors contracted were successful in interacting with families but less successful in getting them to visit the library. A home visitor who was also a library employee would have provided a more successful link to the library.

Categories of service:

1. Services to Children Under 3 – Toddler Programs
2. Services to Low Income Families
3. Parent Education

Last modified on March 1, 2000/djr
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/parchld/Patchog.htm