Families Learning Together

Who Can Benefit From Even Start? Even Start is a holistic family literacy program that serves:

• Parents who are eligible for Adult Basic Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, GED, and
• Parents who have at least one child whose age is between birth and ten.

What is Even Start? Even Start is an integrated family literacy program which includes:

• Early Childhood Education
• Adult Education
• Parenting Education
• Educational Home Visits
• Family Nights
• Field Trips
• Interactive Literacy Activities

Early Childhood Classroom
During the parent's Adult Education time, their children will be participating in an onsite Early Childhood program or attending a BCPS elementary school.

Children have fun while learning skills to enhance their development and prepare them for school.

Adult Education
As part of Adult Education, parents will:

• Set goals for themselves and their families
  
• Improve their reading, writing and math skills
  
• Prepare for the GED
  
• Gain life, job and computer skills
  
• Meet other parents with similar interests
• Learn about helping their child in school and at home

Interactive Literacy Activities
This is an exciting time for both parents and children. They will share quality time exploring new skills. Parents will discover new ways to make learning a fun experience, while preparing their children for school.

Educational Home Visits
A home visitor makes appointments with each family to bring books, games, puzzles, and a variety of family activities to their home. The home visitor also provides parents with age appropriate developmental information about their child. Appropriate reading materials are selected through information the home visitor receives from the Adult Education teacher and the child's teacher.

Parenting Education
Parents help each other by giving and getting suggestions. 
Parents learn new ways to deal with common parenting concerns.

Family Nights & Field Trips
Family Nights provide an opportunity for families to meet with one another. Family Nights include activities such as storytelling, drama, family games, and live entertainment.
Field trips provide the opportunity for families to take a break, spend quality time together, and share new experiences.

Even Start can help you. . .

• Reach your goals
• Make reading fun for your family
• Develop school readiness skills in your children
• Strengthen positive attitudes towards Reading and Writing in School-Aged Children

Even Start is a free program - To learn more about Even Start and to find a location near you, call (410) 887-2345 or (410) 887-2355.