Reach Out and Read equips parents and caregivers with guidance and books to make reading with their young children a meaningful part of daily life. Embedded within pediatric well-child visits, which are recommended for all children, our model leverages the trusted voice of clinicians to support families in building early literacy skills, fostering curiosity and empathy, and strengthening parent-child bonds from birth through age 5.
Many people view our program as a simple book giveaway at well-child visits, but it's so much more!
In 92 program sites across the state, medical clinicians guide families with young children in nurturing relationships through reading together.
Reach Out and Read partners with clinicians and uses the pediatric well-child visit to support parents and caregivers in using shared reading to build early literacy skills and healthy relationships with their young children.
Clinicians give families age-appropriate books and discuss the importance of shared reading at each well-child visit.
HOW IT BEGAN
In 1996, Marsha Raulerson, MD, FAAP brought the Reach Out and Read program to her pediatric practice in Brewton, Alabama. In 2006, she played an instrumental part in bringing the program to the entire state under the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Raulerson, serving as the Reach Out and Read-Alabama Medical Director, realized a dream she had had for many years.
