From birth, language-rich "back and forth" interactions between parent and child are critical for optimal development. When parents talk and read with their young children, early language and communication skills develop. When this doesn't happen, children miss the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential. Having books at home and parents who read aloud have long been demonstrated to be vital precursors to later success in school.

 

This is the premise behind Reach Out and Read, and why we are delighted that over 1,700 medical providers across Washington use the gift of a children's book to help assess child development and parent-child interactions, while modeling for and teaching families how to promote literacy at home.

 

We share Washington's commitment to safe, stable, nurturing relationships for all children, and to eliminating disparities in health and education. Intentionally aiming to "level the playing field" as early as possible, Reach Out and Read prioritizes medical clinics serving children living in low-income families, children of color, and families where English is not the primary language. Physicians and the health care system are critical partners with the Governor and state agencies to improve kindergarten readiness and eliminate race, family-income, and zip code as predictors of child success. Reach Out and Read is currently serving about 20% of the Birth-5 population; 66% live in low-income families, 43% are children of color, and 23% have a home language other than English.