During the initial interview and needs assessment, it may become evident that new students need services outside the ESL or family literacy program. Therefore, it is beneficial to consult a community services guide to determine which agencies might be the most appropriate for student referrals. Various agencies in communities across the country (e.g., Head Start programs, United Way, local libraries) create these guides, which list contact persons, location and phone numbers, program descriptions, services offered, and the target population. These are usually updated annually. The community services guides are available in various formats and contain different information, as dictated by the resources of the community. The following services may be included:

• Free or reduced-cost health services, social services, crisis services, housing assistance, or legal assistance
• Public transportation
• Head Start, Even Start, or other early childhood programs
• Adult education or community education services
• Elementary school services, such as after-school and parent involvement programs
• Women's centers and women's shelters
• Cultural centers
• Library services
• High school and college programs for adults
• Advocacy organizations offering job preparation and training

The objective of the student orientation is not so much to present program information as to answer questions, allay fears, and make adult learners comfortable so that they will want to return. Through careful planning, administrators and staff can make the first days of a new adult learner's participation a pleasant experience.

References

Houle, C. (1963). The inquiring mind. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin.

King, R., & McMaster, J. (2000). Pathways: A primer for family literacy program design and development. Louisville, KY: National Center for Family Literacy.

Lieshoff, S. C. (1995). The impact of literacy programs: Perceptions of selected Mexican and Mexican-American women in Texas. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University, College Station.

National Center for Education Statistics. (1995). Participation of adults in English as a second language classes: 1994-1995. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved May 17, 2004, from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs97/web/97319t.asp

Skilton-Sylvester, E., & Carlo, M. (1998). "I want to learn English": Examining the goals and motivations of adult ESL students in three Philadelphia learning sites (Technical Report No. TR98-08). Retrieved May 17, 2004, from http://literacyonline.org/products/ncal/pdf/TR9808.pdf

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. (2003). Standards for adult education ESL programs. Alexandria, VA: Author.