The mission of Reach Out and Read (ROR) is to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading.

Description:
Reach Out and Read builds upon the special relationship between pediatricians and parents of young children (ages six months to five years), to encourage parents to read aloud to their children daily. Pediatricians convey to parents the importance of books and reading in their children’s lives. Research shows that being read to early and often creates a strong foundation for later learning and ultimate success in school. Being read to also promotes a love of books and reading in young children. The ROR model facilitates this important developmental activity in these three ways:

(1) Pediatricians are trained in the theories of early literacy development and specific strategies to promote literacy in children. During well-child visits they use this knowledge to give parents “anticipatory guidance” about the importance of reading aloud.

(2) Pediatricians give children a new book to take home at every check up from six months to five years. These books are carefully chosen based on developmental and cultural appropriateness. Children participating in the ROR program will start school with a library of at least ten books in their homes.

(3) Trained volunteers read stories to children while they wait for their appointments. These readers show parents by example that their children enjoy listening to books read aloud.

History:
Pediatricians and early childhood specialists founded ROR in 1989, at Boston City Hospital, now a part of Boston Medical Center. In its eighteen years, ROR has grown and is now located at more than 3,289 sites (located mainly at community health centers and hospitals) in all fifty states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Nationally, the program reaches more than 2.8 million children, distributing 4.6 million age- and culturally-appropriate, free books to these children each year. ROR has been present in Utah health centers since 1998. There are now 23 sites actively participating in the ROR program in Salt Lake (16), Tooele (1), Duchesne (1), Uintah (1), Iron (1), and San Juan (3) Counties, serving 23,694 children.

Contact person: Carey Crockett, Program Director, (435) 770-4792, (email)

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Address:

PO Box 521327 Salt Lake City, UT 84152 This location is handicap accessible

Web Site: http://www.reachoutandread.org

Directions:

Multiple pediatric clinics at which to volunteer