If you are looking for an opportunity to give back to your community, the Douglas County Literacy Council is looking for you. 

Studies have shown that approximately 14% of the total English speaking adult population in the United States are functionally illiterate.  That equates to over 30 million people in this country who are not able "to complete simple, every day literacy tasks, such as reading and understanding information in short, commonplace texts and simple documents."  The National Adult Literacy Survey indicates that 13% of Douglas County residents are functionally illiterate and another 32% of Douglas County residents can perform only limited literacy and simple quantitative tasks. Literacy experts believe these figures are understated.

Formed in March 1987, the Douglas Council Literacy Council has been tackling the illiteracy in this county for more than 20 years.  The DCLC offers free, confidential tutoring to adult students and is always in need of volunteer tutors.

I spent three very rewarding years as a volunteer tutor with DCLC.  When I contacted DCLC about getting involved, I was relieved to learn that DCLC provides a lot of support to its volunteers:

• New volunteers undergo 10 hours of training before they are matched up with a student.  Dr. Annette Cash, a professional educator, leads the evening training classes, held twice a week over a 2-1/2 week period of time. 
• DCLC assesses the existing skill levels of students prior to matching them with a volunteer tutor.
• DCLC uses the Steck-Vaughn "Reading for Today" sequential program for adults and provides all of the training materials to the volunteer tutor and to the student free of charge.
• DCLC has a great relationship with the Douglas County Library system.  Most DCLC tutors meet work with their students in a work room at the library

In addition to teaching adult students to read, DCLC provides continued support to any of its students who pursue their GED through the West Central Technical College's Adult Education Program.  DCLC also coordinates with the West Central Technical College to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) training to immigrants who do not speak English.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tutor for this worthwhile organization, please call 770.949.2319.

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