Published: July 02, 2008 07:04 pm            

Reach Out and Read Program promotes literacy

Vermillion-Parke Health Center offers children’s books to take home

The Vermillion-Parke Community Health Center is implementing education into pediatric primary care by participating in the Reach Out and Read Program.

Reach Out and Read makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. Reach Out and Read trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud.

The Vermillion-Parke Community Health Center has age-appropriate books for children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years.

Each child will receive a new, developmentally appropriate children’s book to take home and keep.

Reach Out and Read and the Vermillion-Parke Community Health Center want to encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading.

Linda Pfrank, health center social worker and Reach Out and Read coordinator, feels very fortunate to have this resource for children served by the Community Health Center.

“Research proves that children who live in an environment in which reading and books are an important aspect of family interaction are more likely to learn and read on schedule,” Pfrank said.

By providing a new book at each well-child visit, Community Health Center medical providers have a unique opportunity to demonstrate to parents the value of reading to their children.

The mission of the Vermillion-Parke Community Health Center is to provide comprehensive, quality primary health care and related services to those in need of medical care, including the medically underserved and vulnerable populations of Vermillion and Parke counties without regard to the patient’s ability to pay.

        

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