In The News
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The Counseling Center’s Family Health Care Center is kicking off a book drive to collect “new and gently used” children’s books for the waiting room at the FHCC located at 1634 11th Street, Portsmouth. This effort is a follow up initiative of receiving a grant and the status as an Ohio Reach Out and Read program site.
The mission of the Ohio Reach Out and Read (ROR) program is to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. The ROR model uses the existing structure of pediatric primary care, in which parents of young children have regular, one-on-one, developmentally focused visits with pediatricians or primary care provider during the first years of a child’s life. For many families, especially for families living in poverty, these visits are the earliest, and possibly the only, regular contacts with a child development professional.
As a designated Reach Out and Read site, the FHCC received enough books (based on number of patient encounters) to distribute for one year. Children ages 6 months-5 years of age will receive a new age appropriate book at the time of their well child visits. The program also encourages literacy enriched waiting rooms and that is the reason for a “new or gently used” book drive for children’s books to be placed in the waiting room at FHCC. This will be an on-going need and we would appreciate any promotion or assistance that the literacy council may help with.
Book donations can be delivered to their FHCC at 1634 11th Street, Portsmouth. You can also learn more by calling 740-354-6428 or by visiting their website at www.thecounselingcenter.org.
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The Literacy Council of Scioto County has hired Althea Throckmorton as its new director, and she assumed her new duties on July 20. A Scioto County native and a graduate of Portsmouth West High School, Althea received a BA degree in English from Berea College before going on to work for a variety of corporate and non-profit organizations in Lexington, Seattle and Chicago. She has extensive experience in grant research and writing, membership, fundraising, program development and administration. She has also worked in the past with educational organizations, both on the public school level with Communities In Schools of Chicago and with adult literacy through her work with Literacy Chicago. Althea can be reached by mail at the Literacy Council of Scioto County, PO Box 293, Portsmouth, OH 45662, by phone at (740) 351-3514, or by e-mail at director@literacyscioto.org.
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The Literacy Council of Scioto County is seeking a new director. Susan McComas the first council director resigned in late March to assume a full time position at The Counseling Center. Tess Midkiff assumed the role as interim Director at her departure and will complete that role on June 4th. Anyone interested in applying for the part-time position should send a letter and resume to director@literacyscioto.org or by mail to Literacy Council of Scioto County, P. O. Box 293, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
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We can begin to countdown now for The Big Read: Scioto: County. February 10, 2009 the three month project will Kick Off activities in the Vern Riffe Center at 7:00 p.m. with refreshments and an appearance of David Kipin, Literary Director of the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA is the grantor for this exciting project to promote literary reading in our community. The Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association is one of 208 organizations/communities in the country to receive this recognition. Several organizations and agencies will be sponsoring events and activities focusing on "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. More details will be available through this website and you may visit: www.neabigread.org for more details and a community calendar of events. This is an important collaboration for the community seeking to reach lapsed and reluctant readers.
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The 2008 "Literacy Changes Lives" Membership Campaign has only reached 30% of its $40,000.00 goal. This campaign is to raise funds to sustain the organization beyond June 2009. The campaign will continue as needed maintain these important activities.
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The LCSC trustees will meet on November 17th at 1:30 p.m. for a special meeting and election of 2009 officers and trustees. This change is due to Thanksgiving holiday. The LCSC board meetings are now held at the SOMC East Campus Gibson Building.
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On October 22, 2008 , a one day workshop "Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Communities and Professionals" was presented by Terie Druessi Smith co-author with Dr. Ruby K. Payne and Philip DeVol of the book with the same title. Over 360 professionals and community members gathered at the SOMC Friends Center for an eye opening day of better understanding generational poverty and how to become better partners working with those we serve.
The support received from local agencies and grants for Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop has been great! This will be a wonderful training for our community to understand more about those that we serve. Sponsors for the poverty workshop are: SOMC, Scioto Foundation, Scioto County Jobs and Family Services,, Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth City Schools, Portsmouth Rotary Club, Wheelersburg Kiwanis Club, Clark Memorial Library, Community Action of Scioto County, and United Way of Scioto County Helping Hands.
Partners include: Women's Center at Shawnee State University, Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, Shawnee State University Business and Industry Education
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The 2008 Membership Campaign Continues. Only 25% of the $40,000.00 campaign goal has been met. Please refer to monthly newsletters for additional details on the importance of the community's participation in this initiative.
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The Dr. Ruby K. Payne Keynote on September 18, 2008 was standing room only. Students and representatives from the community packed Flohr Lecture Hall for the one plus hour of outstanding information regarding "A Framework for Understanding Poverty". There were agencies from Huntington, WV and Chillicothe. Early feedback received from evaluations indicated that it was received very well. This is a great foundation for the upcoming workshop: Bridges Out of Poverty on October 22, 2008. Read the September 2008 Literacy Council newsletter for additional information regarding this workshop and how to register.
News was received recently from the Scioto Foundation and the United Way Helping Hands fund regarding approval of their support of the "Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Communities and Professionals workshop to be held on October 22, 2008 at the SOMC Friends Center. This will be an important training opportunity for anyone in our county working with those living in poverty. Learn how to become a better partner to those you work with and help them transition from welfare to work. "Now I understand the people I am serving"
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Gold stars were everywhere for the first annual membership campaign launch on July 22nd at the SOMC Friends Community Center. Read more about this exciting "Literacy Changes Lives" event here: Lunch for Literacy
The Literacy Council will be launching the first and annual membership drive with a "Lunch for Literacy" on July 22nd at noon at the SOMC Friends Center. The charge for the luncheon is $12.00 per person. Guest speakers will include: State Representative: Todd Book, Dr. Mike Raies as: "The Cat in the Hat" and Richard Jenkins Tri State Literacy Council Keynote: "Literacy Changes Lives". For reservations contact: Kay Bouyack: 74-353-8292 and kbouyack@adelphia.net or Susan McComas 740-351-3514 and smccomas@literacyscioto.org by July 16th. To sustain the organization beyond June 2009, the organization must look to the community's support. Won't you help?
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Work continues to find partners for the "Bridges Out of Poverty" Workshop on October 22nd. Partners to date include:
Scioto County Jobs and Family Services, Portsmouth City Schools, Portsmouth Public Library, Clark Memorial Library (SSU), Women's Center (SSU), SOMC, Portsmouth Rotary Club, Community Action Organization of Scioto County. Local Red Cross volunteers and representatives from Goodwill will be assisting with the program.
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The Portsmouth City Health Department has been accepted as a Reach Out and Read site. Through the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Ohio Chapter, books will be available for distribution during well child visits. The books are used by the physicians and those conducting the examination as a tool to better facilitate a developmental examination. The Literacy Council of Scioto County would like to see additional sites. For more information visit: www.reachoutandread.org or contact the Literacy Council at 740-351-3514.
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In collaboration with the SOPAA and approximately 10 other local organizations, Scioto County will be a BIG READ community for 2009. The Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association through Arts Midwest has received a grant to promote literary reading throughout the community in early 2009. The project will center around "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. The community will be offered opportunities to appreciate this literary selection from "page to stage" in 2009. For more information visit: www.neabigread.org The Big Read: Scioto County will kick off its series of events and scheduled projects on February 10th at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.
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The Literacy Council recently recognized Jan Broughton one or the three founders of the Literacy Council for her dedication to children and education. A reception was given in her honor during a recent Portsmouth City Schools board meeting. Ms Broughton has accepted the position of superintendent in the Logan Elm district north of Scioto County.
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The membership committee of the Literacy Council of Scioto County is planning a Membership Campaign: "Literacy Changes Lives: 2008" in July.
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Through the generosity of the Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority, there is now a pool of 20 Adult Tutor Volunteers available to tutor adults wanting to learn to read or to read better. These tutors are available through Scioto ABLE, SSU BASICS or by calling 351-3514 to serve Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority residents.
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We are proud to announce that the Literacy Council of Scioto County has received $3,000.00 grant from Ohio's Attorney General Office. This funding is to promote literacy throughout Scioto County.
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The Literacy Council of Scioto County Board of Trustees met for a special Planning Session on February 12, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. @ the Scioto Foundation Office.
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Literacy Council featured in the Community Common November 19th edition in featured article of those "Making A Difference" in the community.
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The annual meeting of the Literacy Council of Scioto County will be on November 27th @ 4:00 p.m. in Library Conference Room, #253 Clark Memorial Library on the campus of Shawnee State University. There will be an election of officers for 2008 and new trustees. There will not be a December meeting.
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A few words from the Director can be read here: Future is Bright for Literacy Activity in Scioto County. New to the Website: For the Family page mentions many great tips for reading with a child. Share this information with family, friends, clients, and patients.
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The Literacy Council of Scioto County newsletter. "The Letter " is issued monthly connecting Scioto County literacy service providers and literacy advocates: one Letter at a time. Please submit your information to share during the first week of each month to: director@literacyscioto.org
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The LCSC is physically located in Room 150 of the Clark Memorial Library on Shawnee State University's campus in Portsmouth, OH. Information or inquiries may be dropped off at that location or by appointment. The Director may be reached by calling: 740-351-3514 Or by Writing: Literacy Council of Scioto County P. O. Box 293 Portsmouth, OH 45662 and email: director@literacyscioto.org We will be so happy to hear from you!
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The Literacy Council of Scioto County is currently exploring the development of a "New Reader" tutoring program for adults in Scioto County. A pilot program at various Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing sites will be host to one on one adult literacy tutoring. Watch for details coming soon. Volunteers will be needed to work one on one to improve reading levels of the many adults in Scioto County who would like to learn to read or improve their reading skills.
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On September 13th, the Literacy Council of Scioto County had its official "Kick Off". Approximately 50 individuals gathered in the Main Floor Alcove at Clark Memorial Library on the campus of Shawnee State University to hear Susan McComas, Director of the LCSC, deliver the state of Scioto County regarding literacy. Individuals representing the media, schools, shelters, Shawnee State University, AmeriCorp, SOMC, agencies, service organizations providing literacy services just to mention a few.
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A grant request to The Governing Board of the Scioto Foundation has been approved for a technology "Start Up" project that will enable the Literacy Council of Scioto County to purchase a laptop computer and printer. The grant, from the Stella Quinn Fund, is in the amount of $2,000.00. This is a great boost for this worthwhile initiative.
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The founders of the Literacy Council of Scioto County: Randy Arnett, President and CEO of SOMC, Dr. Rita Rice Morris, President of Shawnee State University and Jan Broughton, Superintendent of the Portsmouth City Schools were honored Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at the Local Red Cross Heroes Breakfast as Education Heroes for 2007. The event was held at the Friends Center at SOMC.
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The Literacy Council of Scioto County is currently meeting the fourth Tuesday of each month (except December) in the Library Conference Room (Room 253) Main Floor at the Clark Memorial Library on the campus of Shawnee State University at 4:00 p.m.