Reach Out and Read makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care so that children grow up with books and a love of reading.

Description:
At the well-child check from ages 6 months to five years, doctors and nurses talk with parents about the importance of reading aloud, give the parents concrete developmental advice about early literacy for their child, and then give the child a brand new, developmentally appropriate book to take home. Waiting rooms are transformed into literacy rich areas with volunteer readers modeling techniques of reading aloud.

History:
Reach out and Read was begun at Boston City Hospital in 1989. It has since grown to over 3,000 programs at health care centers around the country, with 12 programs in Rochester:
Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong
Rochester General Hospital
Genesee Health Service
Westside Health Service
Foster Care Pediatrics
Culver Medical Group
Family Medicine Center
Oak Orchard Community Health Center
Anthony Jordan Health Center
Clinton Family Health
Jefferson Avenue Family Medicine
Lifetime Health

Contact person: Susan Huppe, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (585) 323-9714

Address:

333 Thomas Avenue Rochester, NY 14617 (See a map)