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RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2013 AS FAMILY LITERACY MONTH IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY; RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER EACH YEAR THEREAFTER AS FAMILY LITERACY MONTH IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY; DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO PREPARE A PLAN FOR A PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, DURING FAMILY LITERACY MONTH IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

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WHEREAS, the National Assessment of Adult Literacy reports that 90 million adults in the United States do not have the literacy skills necessary to succeed in the workplace and in society; and
WHEREAS, literacy is essential to the economic and societal well-being of our community, and is necessary for individuals to fully benefit from the opportunities available to them; and
WHEREAS, the unemployment rate is highest among those people without a high school diploma or an equivalent credential, demonstrating that education is important to economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, many older people in the United States lack the reading or math skills necessary to read a prescription and follow medical instructions, presenting risks to their lives and the lives of their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that the educational skills of a child�s parents and the practice of reading to a child have a direct impact on the educational success of the child; and
WHEREAS, parental involvement in a child�s education is a key predictor of a child�s success, and the level of parental involvement in a child�s education increases as the educational level of the parent increases; and
WHEREAS, parents who participate in family literacy programs become more involved in their children�s education and gain the tools necessary to obtain a job or find better employment; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade libraries, public schools, volunteer and community-based literacy organizations, colleges and universities are significant resources for family literacy; and
WHEREAS, this Board would like to encourage Miami-Dade County residents to learn more about the importance of family literacy as well as ways to promote, support and encourage family literacy in our community; and
WHEREAS, Family Literacy Month would highlight the need to ensure each and every citizen has the literacy skills necessary to succeed at home, at work and in society; and
WHEREAS, to encourage and promote family literacy in Miami-Dade County, to increase awareness of family literacy and to applaud the efforts of those entities in Miami-Dade County that help promote adult and family literacy services, this Board would like to recognize the month of October, 2013 as Family Literacy Month in Miami-Dade County and further recognize the month of October each year thereafter as Family Literacy Month in Miami-Dade County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Recognizes the month of October, 2013 as Family Literacy Month in Miami-Dade County and further recognizes the month of October each year thereafter as Family Literacy Month in MiamiDade County.
Section 2. Directs the Mayor or designee to conduct in conjunction with community partners a public information and educational campaign, including events and activities, for Family Literacy Month in Miami-Dade County the month of October, 2013, as well as the month of October each year thereafter.
Section 3. Directs the Mayor or designee to provide a report to the Board by December 1, 2013 on (i) the public information and educational campaign, including events and activities, that was conducted for Family Literacy Month in October, 2013 as well as (ii) a plan for a public information and educational campaign, including events and activities, for Family Literacy Month each October thereafter.