About Help Me Read
About The Family Literacy Coalition
The Family Literacy Coalition of Puget Sound promotes reading and life long learning. This coalition is represented by a wide range of agencies and services dedicated to literacy.
This coalition consists of these agencies and programs:
- BookPALS
- Family Partnerships Program
- Fremont Public Association
- The Governor's Summer Reading Challenge
- Humanities Washington
- KCTS Kids & Family (Ready To Learn)
- Literacy*Americorps Seattle & King County
- Newspapers In Education, The Seattle Times and the Seattle P-I
- Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program
- Reach Out & Read
- Seattle Public Schools Head Start
- The Seattle Public Library
- Washington Reading Corps
If you would like more information on the following programs, you can click on the link to their website.
BookPALS
Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools, are actors who volunteer their time in elementary schools, hospitals, community centers and special events, using their creative skills to read to kids. It is our mission to bring the magic of books alive and inspire the desire to read. BookPALS is founded on a very clear premise: children must be exposed to the magic of books to develop a love of reading. Who better to make that magic come alive than actors, gifted in the art of storytelling?
- BookPALS website
- seattle@bookpals.net
- 3029 NW 62 St., Seattle WA 98107
Family Partnerships Program
The Family Partnerships Project teaches schools how to integrate and institutionalize best practices of family involvement into their academic goals. It fosters equal and active partnerships between schools and families to eliminate disproportional achievement and to make sure all students succeed. The project is a collaboration led by the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools.
- Family Partnerships Program website
- Contact: Adie Simmons
- amsimmons@seattleschools.org
- MS 33-160, PO Box 34165
- (206) 252-0992
Fremont Public Association
A Broad Based Community Social Service Agency with an Anti Poverty Mission. Fremont Public Association runs 27 programs to meet basic human needs including emergency shelter, emergency food, home care for seniors and disabled people and three National Service programs that deal with anti violence, advocacy for low income people and boosting literacy among at risk elementary school students.
- Fremont Public Association website
- Contact: Simone Jones
- PO Box 31151, Seattle, WA 98103
- (206) 957-4779
The Governor's Summer Reading Challenge
Governor Locke encourages young people, under the age of 18, to join in his challenge to read at least 15 hours during the summer months. Participants receive a certificate from the Governor and are eligible to win prizes donated by sponsors.
- Summer Reading Challenge website
- readingchallenge@governor.wa.gov
- P.O. Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504
- (360) 902-0492
Humanities Washington
Humanities Washington is the statewide affiliate for Motheread/Fatheread ®, a national family literacy program. Humanities Washington sponsors training institutes, provides support for ongoing classes, and provides books for families participating in the classes, when possible. The next scheduled training institute, which is open to the public, will be held from June 8-11, at the Shoreline Conference Center.
- Humanities Washington website
- Contact: Lydia Bassett
- lydia@humanities.org
- 615 2nd Ave. Suite 300
- (206) 682-1770
KCTS Kids & Family (Ready To Learn)
KCTS Kids & Family extends the impact of our children's educational programming by providing parents and educators with meaningful resources and services that support a child's development and school readiness. PBS Ready To Learn is the foundation of KCTS Kids & Family program, Public Television's contribution towards ensuring that all children enter school ready to learn. We achieve this in part through parenting and educator workshops, distribution of free children's books, and literacy activities in the community.
- KCTS Kids and Family
- Contact: Stefanie Malone, Outreach Coordinator
- outreach@kcts.org
- 401 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109
- (800) 930-6060 (Outreach Hotline) or (206) 443-6770
Literacy*Americorps: Seattle & King County
Our program places full and part-time AmeriCorps members in existing literacy programs to provide direct service and organizational sustainability activities. Our focus is on adult (ABE/ESL/GED) literacy and family literacy.
- Literacy Americorps website
- Contact: Se´n Walsh
- literacy@kcls.org
- c/o King County Library System, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah, WA 98027
- (425) 369-3455
Newspapers In Education, The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post- Intelligencer
The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Newspapers In Education supports K-College grade level education by providing FREE newspapers and FREE newspaper-based curricula to classrooms and educational programs.
- Seattle PI NIE website
- Seattle Times NIE website
- Contact: Tina Kirk, Outreach Specialist
- tkirk@seattletimes.com
- 1120 John Street, Seattle, 98109/POB 70, Seattle, 98111
- (206) 652-6341 or 888-775-2655 x6341
Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program
We promote reading activities and provide new books for at risk children and their families to enrich their lives and strengthen our communities.
- Page Ahead website
- Contact: Leeta Scott, Family Involvement Coordinator
- lscott@pageahead.org
- 88 Spring St., Suite 123, Seattle, WA 98104
- (206) 461-0123
Reach Out & Read
Reach Out and Read (ROR) has provides the link between literacy and a healthy childhood to millions of children, with a special emphasis on children growing up in poverty. ROR reinforces the parent's role as the first and most important teacher, and gives parents the tools and techniques to help their children succeed. At well-child visits, from 6 months to 5 years, doctors and nurses provide information about the importance of reading aloud and give new, developmentally appropriate books to the children to take home. In the waiting room, volunteers read to children, modeling techniques for parents. Find the closest Reach Out and Read site.
There are two local Reach out and Read programs. Both are listed below.
- Harborview Medical Center ROR website
- Harborview Medical Center
- Contact: Kendra Jones
- kendraj@u.washington.edu
- 325 Ninth Ave, Box 359858, Seattle, WA, 98102
- (206) 731-6621
- SeaMar Community Health Centers
- Contact: David Mendoza, Americorps
- americorps4@juno.com
- 8915 14th Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98108
- (206) 764-4700 ext.6222
Seattle Public Schools Head Start
Head Start is a comprehensive early childhood development program serving low-income families and features a strong parent involvement component that is integral to the program's success. We use a rich language-based curriculum to enhance the development of literacy skills and behaviors and tailor it to meet individual needs of each child.
- Contact: John Wrobleski
- jewrobleski@seattleschools.org
- MS 31-555, PO Box 34165 Seattle, WA 98124-1165
- 206-252-0968
The Seattle Public Library
The Seattle Public Library system includes a Central Library, 24 neighborhood libraries, Mobile Services and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library. The Seattle Public Library provides a wide array of programs for children and adults including weekly story times, ESL Talk Time sessions, homework help and book discussion groups. In addition, you'll find a variety of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs at each library location.
- Seattle Public Libraries website
- infospl@spl.org
- 800 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
- (206) 386-4636
Washington Reading Corps
Washington Reading Corps provides VISTA and AmeriCorps members working to improve reading among elementary school children in Seattle, Highline, Tukwila, and Kent school districts.
Members recruit volunteer tutors from the community and do direct tutoring with low literacy students at selected Washington Reading Corps Schools. Members also engage in community service projects during the year. The WRC offers short-term summer placement of AmeriCorps and VISTA with agencies and organizations that support literacy. Member's work on a Civic Engagement program to support voting and citizenship with middle school students through community agencies and youth groups.
- Fremont Public Association website
- Contact: Simone Jones, Seattle Coordinator
- simonej@fremontpublic.org
- PO Box 31151, Seattle, WA 98103
- (206) 694-6860







