About NCFL
The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) is the nation’s largest organization dedicated exclusively to family literacy. Everyday NCFL is creating a new tool, researching the latest information, training another educator, or developing an innovative program that will lead to a more literate nation. NCFL’s impact is so tremendous that Worth magazine named the organization “One of the Top 10 Charities Most Likely to Save the World.” Keep reading to find out how NCFL affects literacy and learning nationwide.

Leadership
NCFL’s Annual National Conference on Family Literacy serves as the premier event for educators and community leaders who are dedicated to family literacy. The conference regularly offers more than 140 discrete sessions and events, as well as nearly 200 exciting presenters. Each year the conference highlights the best of literacy practices and innovations while galvanizing and inspiring its attendees. Visit famlit.org/conference to review the conference program.

Developing programs that lead the way
Model program development is NCFL’s strength. NCFL has been able to successfully adapt the family literacy concept to help programs serve a wide variety of populations and needs.

For example, in 2003 NCFL and Toyota teamed up to create the Toyota Family Literacy Program (TFLP). TFLP enables parents and children, particularly from Hispanic families, to attend class together so that they can learn together. The program has spread to 25 U.S. cities. More importantly, the data shows that TFLP helps parents improve their English language and literacy skills, and children do better in school.

Creating tools that build literate communities
NCFL creates innovative tools used in classrooms and households nationwide — at no cost to parents. One popular NCFL magazine that helps parents cultivate children’s reading skills at home has been distributed to nearly 33,000 literacy programs and individuals.

NCFL develops free, groundbreaking, online educational resources for family literacy educators and parents through Thinkfinity.org. Literacy enthusiasts tap into Thinkfinity’s resources to take online courses, download interactive guides, learn about new student activities and much, much more.

Knowledge and research that leads the field
NCFL provides the latest research-based knowledge and practices in which family literacy professionals and families have come to rely. NCFL translates the findings of the latest research available in reading and education into actionable results that benefit the entire family literacy community.

A good example of this work is NCFL’s leading role in the National Early Literacy Panel (NELP) study, funded by the National Institute for Literacy. The report from this study is altering the quality of preschool education and shape the future of America’s youngest learners. With the generous support of partners such as the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, NCFL is turning this research into tools that teachers and parents can use to help their young learners enter school ready to read. Click here to check out the report.

Empowering literacy champions
NCFL’s training and professional development provides the guidance literacy instructors need to successfully educate families. NCFL’s certified trainers make hundreds of visits to family literacy sites each year that impact thousands of teachers, principals and community program staff. Educators can access free resources simply by visiting NCFL’s Free Teacher Resource page on NCFL’s Web site.

Improving lives through literacy
NCFL makes a huge impact on families and education. To find out more about all the ways in which NCFL changes lives through literacy, visit famlit.org/blog to check out our blog, Literacy Now. Join NCFL in its efforts to create a better tomorrow by helping families today.

Volunteer Opportunities

Thinkfinity.org
The Literacy Network on Thinkfinity.org connects literacy organizations, volunteers and people who want to learn more about supporting literacy by providing free access to information, training and professional development.

Take the free course “Orientation to Volunteering in Literacy” to learn about opportunities in adult and family literacy programs. Or check out videos of other literacy volunteers to get inspired.

Check Thinkfinity.org often for more great help and information.

Find a program
Looking for a literacy program in your area? Visit NCFL’s website for an interactive map. Simply choose your location and we’ll help you find a program that’s right for you! Just click on “Find a Program” to get started.

Free Resource Kit
Engaging Family Literacy Volunteers, Tutors & Learners is a free resource kit that offers a variety of tools to literacy programs and volunteer tutors to help maximize their efforts and expand the services they’re able to offer to families in need. Developed by NCFL. the kit includes a planning guidebook and an instructional strategy designed for tutors working with English-language learners. Visit the Free Resources page and click on "Life Literacies" for literacy program tool.

Support NCFL
With your support, NCFL can continue to help parents and children learn together so they can break intergenerational chains of poverty and underachievement. We are building a more literacy America —one family at a time. Please visit famlit.org/donation for more information or to donate online.