WARSAW — Kosciusko Literacy Services will hold an informational meeting to recruit volunteers at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Kosciusko Literacy Services is located at 201 N. Union St., Warsaw. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

Kosciusko County has an estimated 9 percent adult illiteracy rate, according to a news release from Kosciusko Literacy Services.

This indicates that one in 11 adults over the age of 16 read below a third-grade level. Nearly 15 percent of adults over the age of 25 do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, the news release said.

The Warsaw-based nonprofit exists to eliminate illiteracy through literacy education and remediation.

“Education is the best defense against poverty, and literacy is the foundation of all education,” said Cindy L. Cates of Kosciusko Literacy Services.

Kosciusko Literacy Services provides tutors for adults who are learning to read, earning an Indiana High School equivalency diploma or learning English as a new language. KLS provides this service in cooperation with the Warsaw Adult Education program.

A study by the National Endowment for the Arts illuminates the cascading, negative effects of low literacy. As Americans, especially younger Americans, read less, they read less effectively.

As overall literacy skills decline, people have lower levels of academic achievement. Nearly one-third of American teenagers drop out of school due in large part to declining literacy and reading comprehension.

With lower levels of reading and writing ability, people experience less success in the job market. Poor reading skills strongly correlates with poverty, unemployment or underemployment, lower wages and fewer opportunities for advancement.

Significantly worse reading skills are found among prisoners than in the general population. Nearly 70 percent of inmates perform at the lowest literacy levels. Deficient readers are less likely to become active in civic and cultural aspects of life, specifically in volunteerism and voting.

Kosciusko Literacy Services utilizes a long-term strategy to eliminate adult literacy by focusing on the pre-literacy skills of preschool children.

“The prime time for brain development of literacy and language skills is during the preschool years,” said Cates.

Read to Grow Children’s Book Club is a collaborative approach to improve the literacy of adults and early literacy for preschool children.

Parents and partner agencies help children develop the skills necessary to be successful in school. The RTG initiative improves per-literacy skills of children by providing reading materials for preschoolers, low-income families and encourages and monitors read-aloud time.

The program improves literacy skills by increasing the read-aloud time children have home with their parents by building home libraries. KLS distributes a new book each month to each enrolled preschool child living at or below the 150 percent of the poverty level.

Parents needing literacy help are referred to the adult education classes and the adult tutoring program of KLS. Caseworkers from collaborating agencies emphasize the importance of reading during regular visits. Along with the child’s monthly book selection, a newsletter for the parent is included with emphasis on at-home learning experiences.

Daily reading time is recorded on a pre-addressed postcard. When completed, the postcard is retired to KLS and the parent receives a coupon redeemable for childcare items at BABE Boutique.

The nonprofit provides information on Read to Grow, literacy and libraries along with an ABC board book to the parents of each baby born in a Kosciusko County hospital. United Way and other agencies servicing low-income families also register children for the KLS programs.

Kosciusko Literacy Services needs people to volunteer in a variety of roles.

Volunteer tutors are asked to work with a student for one to two hours per week. KLS offers periodic specialized training. Volunteers work closely with teachers who inform the tutors about where a student needs to improve.

Volunteer board members are needed as well. The board meets six times per year. They are expected to give their time, talent and financial support to the organization.

Individual and corporate donors are needed to provide services at no cost to the children, adults and families.

To RSVP for the Oct. 16 event or for more information, call (574) 267-5380 or email [email protected]