Kelsey Learning Centre

What is the overall impact of the initiative and how is this measured?

Qualitative impacts: When we get it right, the programs we offer are game-changers for the participants and their communities. We’ve had participants walk in from off the street, enroll in programs, graduate, and become employed (one participant went from being on the street to being a registered nurse). That impact goes through to their families and community – people can see their success and where it comes from.

Quantitative impacts: We collect data on program registrations and attendance, and report bi-weekly. Program attendance:
• Adult Learning Centre: 224 learners
• Literacy Program: 78% attendance rate
• Passport to Employment: 95% attendance rate

Our goal is to reduce the people in the tri-community area on social assistance. If we can reduce the number of tri-community members on social assistance by 5% with education and employment, we can return back to the community and its economy.

What challenges have you faced and how were these overcome?

Participant challenges:
• Anxiety / mental health is the #1 learner reported barrier to learning. There is a lot of pressure to perform and behave as an adult, with the assumption that adults ‘have it all together’ (but if that were true, Adult Education wouldn’t exist!). Once learners are ready we place them in courses or a practicum
• Housing
• Daycare – limited availability and subsidies
• No public transportation – how do you get people to and from school, especially in a remote northern area?
• Many students do not have a form of ID

Sponsorship has been a way to overcome some of these participant challenges – participants need someone to help them out. 95% of students are sponsored – either with daycare, housing, or financial supports. Students who are sponsored see much more success, but those who can’t get sponsored face more pervasive barriers.

What are 3 key lessons you learned from developing or delivering your initiative? What advice from those lessons would you share with others?

Listen to your learners – let them drive their learning scale (make realistic learning goals and set a timetable).

Work with those in front of you intensively – tailor to the individual (not a blanket approach for everyone/anyone)

Find funding – you will never have enough!

Leverage what you offer in kind for partnerships (e.g. space, facilities, resources). The ability to partner is crucial.

Which Essential Skills are covered by the initiative? Reading Text Document Use Numeracy Writing Oral Communications Working with Others Thinking Skills Computer Use Continuous Learning

How are the Essential Skills integrated into your initiative?

The KLC has a Workplace Essential Skills Training (WEST) centre in-house. We identified a need of an improved skillset in our learners. Having the centre in-house allows for ES teaching to flow into the classroom, while being able to recruit or perform testing for local industries (pulp & paper mill, hydro).

How do you assess participant Essential Skills?

How ES are tested depends on the learner and their goals/plan. These might include specific numeracy or literacy assessments, provincial standard exams – if there’s an assessment out there, chances are we’ve used it.

What are the components of the initiative? Occupation-specific skills training Academic upgrading Occupational certifications and/or licensing Work-integrated learning (i.e., internships, co-ops, work placements, etc.) Life skills Career and/or educational planning Job search services Cultural, language, and tradition awareness and/or training Other

How do you support participant success in the program? Individualized counselling Individualized tutoring Food allowance and/or on-site meals Work related clothing/equipment Job placements Access to other in-house services After program follow-up support Other

How was Indigenous culture integrated into the program content or delivery?

We have an Elder and Knowledge Keeper on site that contribute to Indigenous cultural activities at the centre. Activities include daily smudges, monthly celebrations, and we recently earned a Pipe Ceremony. We make these activities available and encourage participation.

What do you think are the most important competencies and attributes for staff involved in this initiative to have?

We have a staff of 8 – have a small team to keep the dynamic strong and congruency going.
• 2 proctors at the literacy support centre are warm, welcoming, bring in volunteers, quiet, respectful, and build a sense of community. Literacy certified.
• Other staff are qualified teachers (MA level) with shared life experience before becoming educators, each with backgrounds in different areas (e.g., adult learning, vocational, lit certified). Can teach to specific subjects (coding, power mech, literary studies, chefs, truck driver)

Staff have a wide range of understanding on what it means to change your life, and can completely grasp students’ barriers in order to turn them into part of the plan