Home - Family Literacy Center

The Family Literacy Center is a 501c3 organization that was established in 1980 and is based in Lapeer County. We provide one-to-one and small group tutoring for adults in the thumb area of Michigan. We help our students improve their math and literacy skills, prepare for the GED, and enter employment or training programs. Additionally, we offer family programs including school and library based tutoring programs, playgroups, and hot-topic workshops. We depend on volunteers in various capacities to help us fulfill our mission. We are striving to help people in our community reach their literacy and employment goals.

Our program is designed to empower people and change lives.

According to the Department of Justice, “The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welding to reading failure.” Statistics back up this claim: 85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, and over 70% of inmates in America’s prisons cannot read beyond a fourth grade level.

Nearly 85% of the juveniles who face trial in the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, proving that there is a close relationship between illiteracy and crime. More than 60% of all inmates are functionally illiterate

43% of adults at level I literacy skills live in poverty compared to only 4% of those at level V

Literacy is learned. Illiteracy is passed along by parents who cannot read or write

According to a study conducted in late April 2015 by the US Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the United States can’t read above a fifth grade level, and 19% of high school graduates can’t read.

15% of the United States population has specific reading disorders
46% of American adults cannot understand the labels on their pharmaceutical prescriptions
50% of U.S. adults are unable to read an eighth grade level book
15% of U.S. students are dyslexic

Reports show that the rate of low literacy in the United States directly cost the healthcare industry over $17 million every year

Statistically two thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare

Students who don’t read proficiently by the third grade are four times likelier to drop out of school.

We won the Governor’s Service Award for “Outstanding Volunteer Organization” in 2012. This is another sign that we are offering quality services to our community.

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