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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2005 Despite limited funding, Literacy North Halton is keeping pace with the needs of adults in the community who need to upgrade their literacy and computer skills. All lessons are provided lo-- cally. Five years ago most Lit- eracy North Halton (LNH) students wanted to learn how to use computers. With donated equipment and the assistance of trained volun- teer tutors LNH was able to start providing basic tech- nology training for their students. Today, computers have be- come an integral part of basic literacy training. Students not only want to learn how to use a computer, but they also want to navigate the web, use email and access on-line learning. Literacy North Hal- ton is a registered provider of AlphaRoute, an online adult upgrading program. AlphaRoute is a secure site where students are registered to access activities suited to their individual needs. There is a chatroom, where they can chat with other students, and all stu- dents are assigned their own email address. Students learn to use a computer and build new technology skills at the same time as they improve their basic reading, writing and math skills. AlphaRoute has ~-hundreds of on line literacy Ontario could The Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO) has called on the Ontario government to utilize Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) to their full scope of practice to help reduce esca- lating operating costs within the healthcare sector. Inasubmission to the Stand- ing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, the RPNAO suggested that al- lowing RPNs to practise to their full scope will reduce healthcare facilities' operating costs, while maintaining qual- ity care. "The government cannot keep bailing out hospitals and other healthcare facilities every time they can't balance their budgets," said Joanne Young Evans, Executive Di- lessons for all levels of learn- ers working to upgrade their skills. ; Learning to use a com- puter, accessing the internet and writing an email are all necessary skills to be produc- tive in our knowledge based world. Lessons are part-time, day or evening, in a group or one-to-one. If you would like an op- portunity to learn to use new technology while improving your reading, writing, basic math and computer skills, call Literacy North Halton 905-873-2200. LNH is partnering for the second year with both Halton Hills and Milton libraries to offer the Golden Oak Book Club for adults. This book club provides an opportu- nity for students to read an entire novel and submit their comments and ideas about the book online. Students can choose from a list of six books, selected to meet the interests of adult learn- ers. The program also offers lesson plans and discussion questions for our volunteer tutors. For many students, par- ticipating in the Golden Oak Book Club, may be the first time they have ever read an entire book! January 27, 2005 is Family Literacy Day and libraries in Halton organize special activities to raise awareness around literacy and give THE NEW TANNER On-line literacy at fingertips of Literacy N. Halton Students families an opportunity to spend time with their chil- dren reading stories. Literacy programs can go a long way to breaking the cycle of low literacy in families. Fam- ily literacy programming improves a child's social and educational chances and helps a child's parent to improve their literacy skills in the workplace and in the community. A Plain Language Work- shop: What's in it for business? Anyone who owns a store or runs a busy office in Hal- ton Hills may assume most people can read their signs, advertisements in the local paper, posters or store dis- plays. Unfortunately, what many don't realize is that, according to a recent Cana- dian study, 22 per cent of the population (or one in five in Halton) is baffled by printed text. One of Literacy North Halton's most valued ser- vices, aside from its adult literacy program, is its Plain Language Workshops. This local non-profit agency has achieved a regional repu- tation for its expertise in plain language instruction, and international kudos for it's published work Plain Speaking. This publication is available for $15 at the office in Georgetown. For details call 905-873- 2200 for more details. save $ by hiring more RPNs rector of the RPNAO. "By hiring additional RPNs and utilizing them to their full scope of practice, Ontario can make significant steps in ad- dressing the nursing shortage, while simultaneously generat- ing substantial cost savings." The RPNAO also recom- mended that every publicly funded healthcare facility be required to hire both RPNs and RNs and ensure that both ~ categories are utilized to their full scope of practice. The government has the ability to do so through accountability agreements under Bill 8. "Many hospitals and oth- er healthcare facilities are spending unnecessarily by implementing a nurse staffing mix consisting of higher pro- portions of Registered Nurses & Sobeys Ready to serve. For Valentines day, think of us first. We have everything (RNs), while at the same time not utilizing RPNs to their full scope of practice, or relegating them to non-nursing roles," said Mona Black, RPNAO President. "In fact, some hos- pitals have implemented an all-RN model of healthcare, on the specious grounds that they 'have a reputation to uphold'." If through attrition and new recruitment, 10% of the posi- tions now held by RNs were filled by RPNs, the system- wide savings would amount to more than $152 million per year, without any decrease in quality of services or patient care. These savings reflect only what would be achieved in the acute care sector. More could be saved with implementation in other healthcare sectors. you'll need to sweep that special someone off their feet. We also create funeral arrangements _ as well as book wedding consultations. Acton Sobeys Floral Shop 853-2670 Ty KIA MOTORS --<=_ = 2003 Pontiac Grand Am GT, Polo Green, V6 Power Group, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Spoiler, Immaculate. $16,988 2002 Cadillac STS, Leather, Moonroof, All the luxuries, 88,000 km. Value Priced at $25, 888 2001 Honda CRV, Very clean, Power Group, 4 Wheel Drive, Keyless Remote, A/C, CD, 78,000 km. 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