Literacy Research

Many State TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) programs identify literacy services as a critical program component to provide participants. However, as most States experience budget shortfalls and are pressured to focus on job placement more often than remediation, literacy services are often underfunded. In general, those States that have been proactive in their approach to integrating adult literacy into their programs encourage personal responsibility and provide the needed foundation to engage in activities aimed at securing and maintaining employment. They have developed blended approaches that include, but are not limited to, remedial and secondary education programs, job-readiness training, employment/self-employment counseling, field training, and referral to services to improve life management skills. In these instances, the decisions were based on formal assessments and each State has amended the participant’s individual responsibility plan reflecting their training needs and including the necessary and available support services to ensure their success. The attached report provides an environmental scan of literacy resources, sample State programs and an overview of assessment tools.