Family Literacy Program Celebrates 20 Years of Empowering Families

Two decades of building stronger readers and stronger communities in the Cedar Valley

Hawkeye Community College is marking a major milestone: the 20th anniversary of its Family Literacy Program, which has provided free literacy education and family support to thousands of parents and children across the Cedar Valley.

Established in 2005, the Family Literacy Program helps parents at the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center learn effective ways to support their children’s reading development. Families participate in both in-person and online sessions with a Parent Education Specialist, focusing on how to use age-appropriate reading materials, understand school communications, and create engaging home activities that strengthen reading and math skills.

"Family Literacy has been benefiting the community by increasing learning and the love of reading for both parents and children for 20 years," said Emily Piburn, Manager of English Language Learning and Family Literacy at Hawkeye Community College. "The children of the parents in this program then go on to pass the love of learning and reading to their children, thus transforming a community of generations. It is my hope that this will continue for many more years to come!"

The program's impact is best reflected in the experiences of the families it serves.

"I’ve learned so much about how to engage my daughter with reading," said Family Literacy student Ana Reyes. "It has also helped my husband, my daughter, and me expand our English vocabulary. We've loved the activities we do at home with my little one, which combine reading, writing, imagination, and play — making it truly fun!"

Over the past two decades, the program has made a remarkable impact:

• 14,512 books distributed to local families
• 2,204 families served
• In just the last five years, 770 parents and 1,723 children have participated
• Children in the program showed average reading gains of 76% in the past year

"The best part of my job is getting to watch our families grow in knowledge, confidence, the ways they learn to interact and support their children — and all of the free books I get to give them to share as a family!" said Kelly Heth, Parent Education Specialist for the Family Literacy Program. "I am very proud to get to be a part of this amazing and hard working program."

The Family Literacy Program's success is made possible through the generous support of community partners, including the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, Walmart, Lincoln Savings Bank, and numerous individual donors who believe in the power of family learning.

"Without the community, Hawkeye, and especially the families this program wouldn't exist," said Heth. "We are helping families grow and learn that they are their child's number one and most important teacher."

Learn more about the Family Literacy Program