Reach Out, Read comes to Polson
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
News from Providence
St. Joseph Medical Center
POLSON — Providence St. Joseph Medical Center caregivers Dr. Emily Hall, pediatrician and Dr. Nichole McKinsey, family practice, introduced the Reach Out and Read Program to St. Joe’s.
Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.
The Reach Out and Read evidence-based program builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning in infancy. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read incorporates early literacy into pediatric practice, equipping parents with tools and knowledge to ensure that their children are prepared to learn when they start school.
Reach Out and Read serves nearly 4.5 million children and their families annually. Reach Out and Read families read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills. During the preschool years, children served by Reach Out and Read score three to six months ahead of their non-Reach Out and Read peers on vocabulary tests. These early foundational language skills help start children on a path of success when they enter school.
The program is starting in the valley this month.
