Reach Out and Read: Mobile County Health Department hopes to spread love of reading to local children through outreach initiative

MOBILE, Ala. -- Reading books to young children on a regular basis can make a world of difference in their lives. That's one of the reasons a special reading event has been planned at the Mobile County Health Department’s Pediatric Clinic at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, which will include students from the Southwest Regional School for the Deaf and Blind and a day care center from the Prichard area, health officials said.

 

Children will gather around a larger-than-life doghouse as they hear the story of “Clifford and the Big Storm.” Clifford also will be there to hand out healthy snacks. The event will be held at the health agency’s 251 N. Bayou St. location in downtown Mobile. MCHD staff have taken part in the reading initiative since it began four years ago. This year, WPMI anchor Pat Greenwood will share some of his time with the young students as he reads about how Clifford prepared for a swirling whirling storm.

 

Throughout the year, children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years seen at MCHD pediatric clinics receive new books during regular checkups as part of the Reach Out and Read-Alabama initiative. This year, copies of the book will be distributed by pediatric healthcare providers statewide who will also be talking to parents about improving resiliency and preparedness in their families, with their children and in their communities.

 

“Using the message of this year’s book will help families understand the importance of preparedness in disasters as well as help young children cope more effectively once a disaster occurs,” said Polly McClure, statewide coordinator for Reach Out and Read-Alabama. “Having the support of partners like Books-A-Million, Inc. and the resources of Ready Baby, a targeted outreach campaign to pregnant women and families with small children teaching the importance of preparedness for family resiliency broadens the reach of our message,”

 

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based, national nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud. The model includes providing a new, age-appropriate book for each child to take home from every checkup from 6 months through 5 years of age.

 

Along with the free book for every child, health providers also offer guidance to parents about the importance of reading out loud with their children daily. The research proves that families served by Reach Out and Read do read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills and a six-month developmental edge. 

 

Nationwide, Reach Out and Read doctors and nurses serve 3.9 million children and their families annually at 4,688 pediatric practices, hospitals, clinics, and health centers in all 50 states, targeting those centers which serve children at socioeconomic risk.  The 70 Reach Out and Read programs in Alabama serve a total of 129,000 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers annually.