Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read is a national, evidence-based program that enables area medical practitioners to incorporate early literacy development among the families they serve.  Practitioners are trained in ways to address literacy concerns in well child visits and participating children receive a new book at each well child visit from six months to five years of age.  

  • Reach Out and Read has successfully promoted language development among English and non-English speaking families by encouraging parents to read aloud and by making books accessible in multiple languages.
  • Children served by the Reach Out and Read program show an increase of 4-8 points on vocabulary tests.
  • By age one, if there are books in the home, children will "demand" to hear them read aloud.
  • Compared to families who have not participated, parents who have participated in Reach Out and Read are significantly more likely to read to their children and they have more children's books in their homes.

2011-2012 Program Outcomes

  • Distributed 41,885 new books and 2,870 used books to 28 clinics
  • 20,942 children were served.
  • 69 medical practitioners participated in the program.

PROGRAM IMPACT

The Reach Out and Read (ROR) program is an ingenious way of bringing the gift of knowledge to any child who thought that he or she was just going to the doctor. Such serendipitous discoveries are the inspirations that have changed the world we know today. This is a grassroots program that gives back to society and the individual a 100 percent return on investment.

The successes of the Reach Out and Read Program have been documented. ROR is committed to improved outcomes with ongoing education of all involved. It is my pleasure to be part of the Reach Out and Read program to see children and their families make a life-long connection to books and the wonders of reading.

In life there are a few things that are essential:
Time–can’t take it back
Health–always good to have
Friendship–makes life all the more precious
Reading–if you want to know and be enlightened


Philip Colaizzo, MD, FAAP


You Can Help!

Click here for more information about Reach Out and Read volunteering.

If you are interested in volunteering for Reach Out and Read in Palm Beach County, please contact one of the following sites:

Delray Beach Health Center
Barbara Purr, Volunteer Services Coordinator
561-274-3122

Lantana/Lake Worth Health Center
Shirley Rose, Volunteer Services Coordinator
561-547-6870

West Palm Beach Health Center
Norma Williams, Volunteer Coordinator
561-514-5300

CL Brumback Health Center (Belle Glade)
Brian Stanton, Volunteer Services Coordinator
561-996-1600

 

 

Contact the Reach Out and Read Coordinator at (561) 279-9103 or email for more information.



Reach Out and Read

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The Literacy Coalition hosted a legislative visit with U.S. Representative
Alcee Hastings, District 23. He toured one of the 29 Reach Out and Read
sites and read to children in the waiting room.