2025 led the program into a new chapter — one where every child is ready to read, ready to learn, and ready to thrive.

As 2025 ended, we turned the page into our 20th year—reflecting on what we’ve built together and recommitting to a future where every child in Alabama grows up with the power of books in hand and stories in their hearts. 

Clinicians see it every day -- Reach Out and Read-Alabama makes a real difference in the lives of children and families. By promoting early literacy at checkups, we are helping build brighter futures one book at a time.

The Pentathlon Raises Over $20,000 Once Again 

During the 12th annual Grand Pediatric Pentathlon, the beautiful Gulf Coast and The Lodge at Gulf State Park created an ideal setting for the 43 participants who participated in walking/running, swimming, biking, kayaking, and reading to benefit the program. 

On Friday afternoon, the Fun Run began with yoga with Chapter Spring Meeting attendee and speaker, Michelle Kelly, MD. Participants then ran on the beach for approximately one mile, and the top three finishers received Starbucks gift cards from Fun Run sponsor, so.med. Then many participants had a enjoyed a delightful experience learning to build sandcastles with Sandcastle University, sponsored by River Bank & Trust. 

Throughout Saturday, participants continued to complete the events, and the day culminated in a lively mixer featuring a 360-photo booth and fantastic prizes for those who participated in “fun”draising for the program. 

We also brought back the virtual event this year sponsored by Ozark Pediatric Clinic.  

A special thank you goes out to our Grand Pediatric Pentathlon sponsors -- All About Books, Wind Creek Hospitality, Children’s Rehabilitation Services, Joe Piper Inc., Medical Association of the State of Alabama, My Care Alabama, Alabama Academy of Family Physicians, and Jackson Thornton, PC. 
 
Since its inception, the Grand Pediatric Pentathlon has raised more than $190,000 for Reach Out and Read-Alabama.

16th annual Rx for Summer Reading campaign encouraged families to unplug and play! 

Over the past 15 years, Reach Out and Read-Alabama's Rx for Summer Reading campaign has showcased a variety of beloved characters, including a hungry caterpillar, dancing barnyard animals, a big red dog caught in a storm, dinosaurs celebrating birthdays, a bunny visiting the doctor, a superhero kid, a sleepy tiger, a camellia-adorned black bear, a toddler at a well-child appointment, a sunglasses-wearing cat, a young girl filled with worries, a cookie-eating mouse, and a curious monkey. This year, as Reach Out and Read-Alabama marked 16 years of the Rx for Summer Reading campaign, families were encouraged to "unplug, tune in, and have fun" with John Hutton, MD's Baby Unplugged: Play! The book features timeless childhood experiences and icons without the need for screens, batteries, or WiFi. 
 
Fifty-two program sites across the state embraced the spirit of play this summer with their patients and families hosting events focused on the book and sharing tips on how to unplug as a family. Many sites partnered with local groups and organizations to increase the impact of the event.  
Read more…

Reach Out and Read-Alabama goes to Washington 

Amy Crosby, Program Director and Kym Middleton, MD, Reach Out and Read-Alabama Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics board liaison, traveled to Washington, DC for the Reach Out and Read + Nurture Connection 2025 National Summit in November for a powerful week of learning, reflection, and shared purpose. By centering healthcare through a parent lens and exploring the importance of co-design, collaboration, and connecting families and communities to the medical home, the summit sessions highlighted clinical guidance shaped through partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics and Bright Futures, alongside thoughtful discussions on the periodicity schedule, trust building between clinician and the their patients, and population-level indicators that influence early childhood outcomes.  Read more…

"Our home-visiting programs were already giving out a few books over the course of our program. Parents were always thrilled that we brought books. Since we emphasize the importance of talking and reading to babies from the very beginning, it was exciting to find the Reach Out and Read program to help support us in getting more books into our clients' hands."

An Evening with Dr. Dipesh Navsaria Inspires Cross-Sector Collaboration for Alabama’s Children 

On a Thursday evening in July, Reach Out and Read-Alabama and the Executive Board of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics hosted a private dinner and conversation with nationally recognized pediatrician, educator, and advocate Dr. Dipesh Navsaria. Held at Central Restaurant in downtown Montgomery, the event brought together a dedicated group of leaders from state agencies and children’s advocacy organizations for a focused discussion on the intersection of early relational health, early literacy, and public policy. 

Dr. Navsaria, who is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board for Reach Out and Read’s National Center and just concluded his term as chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Early Childhood, offered a powerful message on the importance of early experiences in shaping lifelong outcomes. Drawing from his unique background in medicine, public health, and child development, he challenged attendees to consider how intentional, cross-sector partnerships can better support the healthy development of Alabama’s youngest citizens.  Read more…

Reach Out and Read-Alabama turns the page to growth in 2025 adding 16 new sites

Reach Out and Read-Alabama clinicians provide families with a new, developmentally appropriate book during each well-child visit from birth to age 5. By the time a child reaches their fifth birthday, they will have more than a dozen books.

During these visits, clinicians talk with parents about the benefits of reading aloud and provide advice for engaging infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with the books. Clinicians also use the book to assess children’s developmental milestones, like responding to a caregiver’s voice, tracking with their eyes, turning pages, repeating rhymes, and forming sentences.

During 2025, 16 practices and clinics in nine counties joined the program to reach even more children in Alabama.

Cameron Diaz, MD, Dabbs and Hyland, P.C.

We know that early relationships and literacy are critical to a child's development. Implementing Reach Out and Read will allow Dabbs and Hyland to connect with more families, build stronger communities, and promote healthier futures for all children in Alabama those from under served populations.

Reach Out and Read-Alabama and the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama partner once again in 2025

At Reach Out and Read-Alabama, we believe all families should have the tools and information to help their children learn to read and form a love of books. Many of the families that Reach Out and Read serves do not have any books at home. Our partnership with CTF Alabama helps us change that, meeting the early relational health and literacy needs of children and families, where they are, in primary care medical offices and helping to provide children and families with books.

Continuing a Vital Partnership: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Renews Support for Reach Out and Read–Alabama 

The Alabama Chapter–American Academy of Pediatrics and Reach Out and Read–Alabama are proud to share that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved continuation of the Reach Out and Read–Alabama Health Services Initiative through the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). 

This highlights the shared commitment of ADPH, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE), and the Alabama Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to improving child health outcomes by integrating early literacy into pediatric care. 

At the heart of Reach Out and Read is a simple but powerful practice: clinicians give each child a new, developmentally appropriate book at every well-child visit from birth through age five, while modeling and encouraging parents to read aloud together daily. This evidence-based approach supports language development, social-emotional growth, and strong parent-child relationships, all essential to lifelong learning and health. 
Read more…

Dothan Pediatric Clinic intern, Austin, and Shannon Heath, site coordinator with Dr. Frosch

Lamenda Blakeney, MD, Reach Out and Read-Alabama site coordinator at Partners in Pediatrics and Dr. Frosch

Sallye Longshore, Director of Children's Trust Fund and Amy Crosby, Program Director, at the CTF check presentation at the Alabama State House

Jamie and Aisha of Early Lab at Pediatric Clinic Rx for Summer Reading event

Partnership with the Early Lab at Auburn University continues for the 3rd year

Since 2022, Reach Out and Read-Alabama has partnered with the Early Lab at Auburn University and Cynthia Frosch, PhD, IMH-E, Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Science, through the Books and Babies study. The first wave of the Books and Babies research was built on a theoretical framework to explore factors associated with shared book reading frequency, including infant characteristics, parent/caregiver characteristics and social contextual factors. To bring this vision to life, Books and Babies 1.0 partnered with Dothan Pediatric Clinic and Pediatric Clinic LLC. Books and Babies 2.0 study in the summer of 2024 doubled the number of clinic partner sites, adding Infants' and Children's Clinic PC and Partners in Pediatrics. We are excited to continue this partnership with Books and Babies 3.0 on the horizon.

The Books and Babies studies are made possible thanks to grant funding provided to the EARLY Lab by the Women’s Philanthropy Board. The EARLY Lab, housed within the Auburn University Early Learning Center, focuses on early relational health, emphasizing caregiver-child relationships from birth through age 5. Through research and practice, their goal is to reduce disparities in socio-emotional health and early language and literacy development, while strengthening relationships within families.

Learn more at https://www.theearlylabau.com/projects.


Read the feature article in the Auburn Research Magazine at https://ocm.auburn.edu/research-magazine/2025/turning-pages.php.

The partners who helped us write our previous chapters helped us turn the page, enabling the next generation to enjoy reading