The Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy
is an
initiative of the Rutgers
University - Camden Center for Children and Childhood
Studies. It aims to prepare children
to read before they enter school and to promote literacy
as a key to intellectual development and economic
success.
Phase
II of
the Childcare Literacy Training
Initiative expands
the focus of
this initiative to
provide a professional pathway for staff
to gain their Child
Development Associate (CDA) certification. Childcare
Literacy and Professional Development Initiative also
kicked off the Camden
City Directors’ Academy by
engaging 17 local child care center directors
and assistant directors in the first of a
series of 12 seminars provided from February
through June 2005.
The
first phase of the Child
Care Literacy Training Program was
dedicated to help childcare professionals
work with children to maximize their early
language and vocabulary development. It offered free seminars for center
and home based childcare staff to advance
and encourage early literacy. All
Camden city childcare centers and home centers
were eligible! Free
transportation was provided and all participants
received a certificate.
Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy .Parental
Literacy Initiative
The
purpose of the Parental Literacy Initiative of
the Camden Campaign for Children's Literacy
is designed to identify parents' literacy needs
and successfully refer them to our adult literacy
partner-Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA).
Through learning-style workshops and ground
rounds, physicians and other clinicians are
trained to identify parents' literacy needs,
approach the parent in a sensitive, non-threatening
manner and to use the children's' health as
a vehicle to address the importance of literacy.
The parent or caregiver may then agree to be
referred to the Literacy Volunteers of America
program set up through the Center for Children
and Childhood Studies. The importance of parents'
ability to read to their children cannot be
underestimated. Parents need to be comfortable
with their own literacy in order to create
homes where reading is valued.
Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy Blueprint
for Children's Literacy
Blueprint
for Children's Literacy. Community
Partners within
the city of Camden who are interested
in addressing children's literacy were
identified and are meeting with the Campaign's
Program Director on a regular basis.
The goal is to expand collaborative efforts
by building on existing literacy programs
and expanding partnerships with other
existing community organizations that
serve children by calling attention to
the importance of literacy in Camden.
Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy Prescription
for Reading: Reach
Out and Read
The Reach
Out and
Readprogram
makes early literacy part of pediatric
primary care. At each "well
child" visit pediatricians encourage
parents to read to their children,
even newborns. Beginning at age six
months the doctor gives the child and
parents a brand new, culturally appropriate
children's book to take home.
The
Abbott Pre-School Outreach Initiative has three
primary goals: 1) to work with key agencies in
Camden to get the word out to families regarding
the benefit of the Abbott pre-school decision;
2) to assist key agencies with the registration
process; and 3) to assist childcare staff with
training and certification in order to meet Abbott
standards.
>>> more
This
first phase of the Child Care
Literacy Training Program was
dedicated to help childcare professionals
work with children to maximize their early
language and vocabulary development. It offered freeseminars for center
and home based childcare staff to advance
and encourage early literacy. All
Camden city childcare centers and home
centers were eligible! Free
transportation was provided and all participants
received a certificate.
>>> more
Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy Camden
Library Outreach Initiative
Camden
Library Outreach Initiative. The Library
Outreach Initiative offered
a wide variety of free reading and
artistic Programs for children in the
Camden community for the past four
years. The Library Outreach
Initiative was a collaborative
project which was generated as a result
of discussions with Teresa Gorman Director
of the Camden Free Library. The Camden
Free City Library depends on residents
to register for library cards and check
out books for increased funding. Better
funding equals better opportunities
for all Camden residents! The Library
Outreach Initiative includes:
Free and educational
activities for families on
the weekends;
Registering
for a library card;
Checking
out or borrowing books;
Take
home one of our free books as part
of our programs.
Dr.
Seuss' Birthday at the Camden Free
City Library.
by Rebecca Heritage
A rainy day.. did not
keep away.. The Cat in the Hat ... for Lamont Dixon, aka "The Cat
in the Hat" (aka Lamont Dixon) who brought smiles to a large audience.
...more
For
more information on the Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy,
please call the CCCL Office at 225-6739 or email
Angela
Connor-Morris, CCCL Program Director, or Becky
Heritage, CCCL Program Coordinator. Thank you.
The
Camden Campaign for Children's Literacy
is an
initiative of the
Center for Children and Childhood Studies
at
Rutgers
University • Camden,
NJ 08102
(856) 225-6739 •
Email
• Copyright
information
Phase
II of
the Childcare Literacy Training
Initiative expands
the focus of
this initiative to
provide a professional pathway for staff
to gain their 
successfully refer them to our adult literacy
partner-Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA).
Through learning-style workshops and ground
rounds, physicians and other clinicians are
trained to identify parents' literacy needs,
approach the parent in a sensitive, non-threatening
manner and to use the children's' health as
a vehicle to address the importance of literacy.
The parent or caregiver may then agree to be
referred to the Literacy Volunteers of America
program set up through the Center for Children
and Childhood Studies. The importance of parents'
ability to read to their children cannot be
underestimated. Parents need to be comfortable
with their own literacy in order to create
homes where reading is valued. 
The Reach
Out and
Read program
makes early literacy part of pediatric
primary care. At each "well
child" visit pediatricians encourage
parents to read to their children,
even newborns. Beginning at age six
months the doctor gives the child and
parents a brand new, culturally appropriate
children's book to take home. 
Dr.
Seuss' Birthday at the Camden Free
City Library. 