The mission of the Reach Out and Read Ohio (ROR Ohio) program is to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. The ROR model uses the existing structure of pediatric primary care, in which parents of young children have regular, one-on-one, developmentally focused visits with pediatricians during the first years of a child's life. For many families, especially for families living in poverty, these visits are the earliest, and possibly the only, regular contacts with a child development professional. By integrating literacy into well-child visits, pediatricians promote the acquisition of spoken and written language skills in young children, thereby increasing the likelihood of eventual school success. This dialogue between parent and pediatrician provides key literacy knowledge and access to resources for the whole family. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses ROR as a model for anticipatory guidance from physicians to parents to convey the why and how to share books with children.
Reach Out and Read Ohio, founded in 2001, has grown steadily to over 130 sites statewide; in 2009 these sites anticipate serving more than 135,000 children and distributing over 250,000 new, high quality books. Currently, nearly 2,300 medical care providers have been trained in the ROR model of early literacy promotion. ROR sites are presently functioning in community health centers, hospitals, residency programs and pediatric clinics throughout the state.
Contact: Heather Hall, Coalition Leader, hhall@ohioaap.org or (614) 846-6258.
Reach Out and Read Ohio would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Barnes & Noble - Polaris for supporting ROR Ohio during their Holiday Book Drive during November and December. Over 2000 brand new books were collected, overall, with at least 1000 books being donated to Reach Out and Read Ohio! The donated books were split between ROR Ohio and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio.
Individuals and organizations can support Reach Out and Read Ohio through hosting book drives, donating new books, donating money and volunteering to read in waiting rooms at a local Reach Out and Read program. For more information, contact Heather Hall, Coalition Leader, at hhall@ohioaap.org or (614) 846-6258.
For more information on Reach Out and Read Ohio click here.