Family Literacy Program Volunteers

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The Family Literacy Program provides on-site childcare for the children of the parents who attend Association House High School. We also provide parenting education workshops, weekly library visits with the Chicago Public Library, and arts and music with Whole Child Arts. Our goal is to empower students, increase their confidence and abilities as parents, and provide a comprehensive early education program for their children. For many of the students that we work with, attending Association House High School and utilizing the Family Literacy Program is the only option they have to graduate high school.

As a volunteer, you will work with the student’s children while they are attending school and act as a mentor and support system for the parents.

Volunteer duties are as follows:
1. Implement and maintain a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment and provide child care for children ages 6 weeks-5 years.
2. Implement curriculum for children ages 6 weeks to age 5 using existing well-regarded curricula and research based best practices aligned with comprehensive early learning standards.
3. Implement appropriate daily parent-child family literacy activities.
4. Work with staff to keep the Center clean; disinfect toys and surfaces daily and follow health and safety policy and procedures.
6. Work with staff to ensure that the Center is a colorful, print-rich environment with developmentally and culturally appropriate toys and learning materials where children can play and learn.

If you are interested in volunteering and working with our program, we ask that you make a long term/consistent commitment. For the participants in our program, it is important that you establish a trusting relationship and bond. And the best way to achieve that is through being consistent with the amount of time and days that you are here.

About the Association House of Chicago

Since 1899, Association House (AHC) has worked with Chicagoans who seek tools to lead more productive lives. It is one of the oldest "settlement houses" in Chicago originally designed to provide relief and guidance to new immigrants. Today, Association House is a vital resource to under-served, multicultural communities, providing collaborative programs to promote health and wellness, educational advancement, and economic empowerment for nearly 20,000 individuals and families.

To address the immediate needs and long-term goals of our client community, we offer direct-service programs within 4 professionalized areas: 1) Association House High School (AHHS) serves 150 students, ages 16-21, who have been dropped or excluded from Chicago Public Schools. Our wrap-around support services, including childcare & mentoring programs, help students mitigate educational obstacles so they may earn their high school diploma. 2) Community Health & Workforce Development fosters potential & comprehensive well-being the community at large. Our services include emergency needs & income support; digital literacy education; workforce training; job placement & retention services; financial literacy education; HIV education & prevention services; physical health, nutrition & fitness education; & Mental Health First Aid trainings. 3) Child Welfare Services works with families to create safe homes for youths within DCFS custody through child advocacy, parenting education, home visitation and therapy & case management services. And, 4) our community Behavioral Health center meets participants' developmental, emotional, social, and primary care needs through treatment services for those experiencing chronic mental-health issues, substance abuse, for persons with developmental disabilities.

For further details or questions, please contact Genna Abrams - Family Literacy Program Supervisor at 773-772-7170 ext. 3409 or via email at gabrams@associationhouse.org