Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. (WLI) has been awarded a $2.6 million grant from the Bureau of Refugee Programs, a division of the Department of Children and Families. The funds will be focused on adult refugee English learners, with a special emphasis on Afghan and Ukrainian populations, WLI announced on Tuesday.
“Wisconsin Literacy is uniquely positioned with its 77 local literacy agencies throughout Wisconsin to welcome refugees resettling in new areas of the state and to connect them to English language services. Our local members are often the first support agencies newcomers may seek out upon arrival. Developing language skills is a critical step to a successful transition to living in the United States,” said WLI Executive Director Michele Erikson in a press release.
Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. has been designated by the Bureau of Refugee Programs as the administrator of the Refugee Support Services English as a Second Language grant to provide English Language Learning (ELL) services for adult refugees throughout Wisconsin. Fourteen WLI member agencies, located across the state, will receive sub-awards to provide ELL programming and resources to adult students qualifying for refugee status. WLI will assist with these initiatives by providing customized trainings, recruitment resources, professional development opportunities and digital and healthy literacy components.
An essential piece of the grant involves tracking program attendance and student success, according to a press release and students’ language acquisition will be monitored, evaluated, and reported on to BRP through oversight by WLI.
