Reach
Out and Read®
Washington Pediatrics' Approach to Community Literacy
ROAR's
Mission
Reach Out and Read (ROAR) is a national program designed
to help promote early literacy skills among children
who are at an increased for reading failure.
Washington
Pediatrics partnered with ROAR as a way to further community
development in 2004. We distribute about 6,000 books
annually.
ROAR's
Three Components:
- Each
child age 6 months to 5 years receives a free book,
which is selected based on the child's developmental
stage.
- Volunteers
read to patients in the waiting room, demonstrating
appropriate techniques for reading aloud to children
for parents.
- Pediatricians
and staff are trained in literacy development and
inform parents about the importance of early childhood
literacy for a child's development.
ROAR's
Emphasis on Literacy
- Literacy
is an important aspect of child development that is
often over looked until a child is already far behind
their appropriate developmental stage.
- 90
million Americans are unable to read adequately.
- Only
61% of adults in Beaufort County can read above a
fifth grade reading level.
- Reach
Out and Read helps jump-start literacy development
in order to change Eastern North Carolina's current
literacy plight.
ROAR
Program Needs
- Monetary
Donations
Monetary donations enable us to purchase new books
for the ROAR program - an important aspect of the
ROAR program.
- New
and Used Book Donations
New books allow ROAR to distribute books to children
with their well-child check-ups, while used books
allow us to give books to older siblings and underprivileged
families.
- Enthusiastic
Volunteers
Volunteers are a key part of the ROAR program. They
demonstrate to parents that reading with their children
is fun for both and it provides an example for reading
aloud. They also make the medical visit more enjoyable.
|
Congressman
Walter Jones reads to children
at Washington Pediatrics |
|
