| Dalton GA, Jul. 26, 2010 — Computers and | | | | 510,000 children lived in out-of-home care in the |
| access to the internet are fundamental to a child's | | | | United States as of 2006 when the most recent |
| education. But what about families who can't | | | | date for national estimates are available. |
| afford a computer, like the children who are in the | | | | Since the inception of the Independent Living |
| foster care system throughout Whitfield County? | | | | Program, funded by the John Chafee Foster Care |
| A group of Whitfield County foster children will be | | | | Independence Act of 1999, social services |
| taking part in a Digital Literacy Camp, July 29 | | | | managers have asserted the importance of |
| through August 1 at the North West Georgia | | | | computer training and technology access for |
| Trade & Convention Center in Dalton that will | | | | youth in care. The result of a study conducted by |
| teach them state-of-the-art computer skills. The | | | | Casey Family Programs of Bridgeport, CT found |
| students will be taught Microsoft Office by | | | | that student in foster care without access to |
| certified professionals from Instructional Access | | | | computer training or a computer are more likely |
| Inc. ( a California based company. After the 21 | | | | to lack employment and higher education |
| hours of weekend training, the students will be | | | | opportunities than their peers with computer |
| allowed to take home the laptop computer and | | | | experience, training, and sufficient access. The |
| color printer they learned on at no cost. | | | | study, conducted in 2000 by Ben Kerman in the |
| Each of the 23 Whitfield County participants are | | | | Research and Evaluation Department at Casey |
| members of foster families and range in age | | | | Family services, also found that young adults |
| from 14 to 20. The children chosen for the | | | | entering the workforce in the information Age will |
| program are at-risk students who excel in school, | | | | be at a disadvantage if they are not |
| but can't afford to buy a computer themselves. | | | | technologically literate. |
| Many are still in high school, while others are | | | | "The whole program was born out of a |
| working on college degrees. Participants are | | | | recognition that the digital divide was growing, and |
| coming from Rome, Ringgold, Chatsworth, as well | | | | that if everyone wasn't provided with access to |
| as Fort Payn. | | | | technology, the gap between the haves and |
| The Digital Literacy Camps for at-risk youth in | | | | have-nots would increase," says DeNae Reagins, |
| foster care are aimed at preparing participants for | | | | one of the three founders of Instructional Access |
| adult independence. "We term ourselves as a | | | | Inc. |
| solution for the digital divide," says Instructional | | | | The Digital Literacy Camp began as a program |
| Access' Vice President Steve Martin. "We feel | | | | put together in 1998 by Instructional Access, a |
| we're truly putting the tools of the future in the | | | | computer training and testing facility based in |
| hands of people who are going to need it the | | | | Riverside, California. The initial mission was to |
| most." | | | | provide educators with instructional strategies for |
| Instructional Access' goal is to work with public | | | | integrating computers into the classroom. Initially, it |
| social services agencies nationwide to teach | | | | offered a 40-hour program to teach Microsoft |
| at-risk children in the foster care system | | | | Office to educators. In 1999 the company started |
| technology literacy skills, job skills and a variety of | | | | working with agencies responsible for youth |
| life skills preparation instruction. | | | | development. |
| The classes teach computer basics such as the | | | | About Instructional Access Inc. |
| Windows operating system. They also teach | | | | Instructional Access, Inc. is based in Riverside, |
| internet safety and computer security and | | | | California, with satellite offices throughout the |
| privacy. The core of the teaching includes | | | | United States. Instructional Access, Inc. has |
| productivity programs such as Microsoft Word, | | | | operates as a California Corporation under this |
| Excel and PowerPoint. The main goal of the | | | | name beginning in 1998. Instructional Access, Inc. |
| Instructional Access curriculum is to teach foster | | | | began as a training company for schoolteachers. |
| children a productive digital lifestyle that they may | | | | Instructional Access Inc. programs provide youth |
| have not been exposed to. One of the culminating | | | | with technology skills and laptop computers with |
| activities is the viewing of the Microsoft | | | | the goal of improving school performance, career |
| PowerPoint presentations developed by the | | | | exploration and professional development. |
| participants demonstrating what they learned over | | | | With the assistance of youth development |
| the weekend. | | | | workers, industry professionals and youth leaders, |
| The all-inclusive 2.5 day Instructional Access Digital | | | | Instructional Access has expanded and now |
| Literacy Camp typically costs $1,995.00 per | | | | offers service in more than 26 states and Puerto |
| participant, with other camp options available at a | | | | Rico. Over the last 12 years Instructional Access' |
| lower cost. A 20 participant minimum is preferred. | | | | services have grown to include: youth |
| The full-service program includes complimentary | | | | conferences, institutional training for incarcerated |
| accommodations and meals for two | | | | youth, staff professional development training and |
| agency-designated chaperones per group of 20 | | | | computer technology literacy training in English and |
| participants. The program is paid for using state | | | | Spanish. Instructional Access' weekend computer |
| and federal funds secured by Whitfield County's | | | | camp program has served over 17,000 youth in |
| Social Services Department. | | | | the last 12 years in 26 states. |
