Heather Freitas, HHSA Visalia Office Self Sufficiency Counselor III (2nd from right) receives Literacy Advocate Award from County Librarian Brian Lewis. There to honor Mrs. Freitas were HHSA representatives (left to right) Donna Ortiz, TulareWORKS Division Manager; Selene Juarez, Visalia Office Supervisor, Karen Hansen, TulareWORKS Employment Services Unit Manager, and Jackie Whitney, Visalia District Office Manager.The Board of Supervisors proclaimed Adult Literacy Day for Tulare County at the BOS meeting yesterday, and also recognized Library Literacy program participants for their accomplishments. Chairman Mike Ennis presented the Board’s proclamation to County Librarian Brian Lewis and Literacy program manager Pat Habeck.
In accepting the declaration, County Librarian Brian Lewis said, “The importance of literacy cannot be overstated. We have a 41 percent illiteracy rate right here in Tulare County. The Library Literacy program works steadily to reduce that figure, often with such community partners as Health and Human Services, the Sheriff’s office and the Visalia Rescue Mission.”
Mrs. Habeck then introduced a new citizen, to whom Supervisor Worthley gave a United States flag. She also presented a GED student to the board, stating that these two individuals represented the more than 700 Literacy Center customers who have participated in the program since its inception eleven years ago. In addition to the learners, there are over 100 tutors who volunteer their time and knowledge to the Literacy program.
The Board also recognized Literacy Advocate Award winner Heather Freitas, a Self Sufficiency Counselor III for the Visalia District Office of HHSA. The presentation to Mrs. Freitas took place on the steps of the Board’s chambers after the meeting. “Heather’s awareness of the value of literacy to her clients makes her a leader in HHSA’s efforts to combat this great problem,” said Mr. Lewis in giving the award to Mrs. Freitas.
The Literacy Advocate Award is part of the three year old joint HHSA/Literacy Center effort to provide functional literacy skills to TulareWORKS clients. The aim of the partnership is to better prepare HHSA clients to participate in the workforce.
