Reach Out and Read Washington State Programs
The heart of Reach Out and Read is the one-on-one interactions between the doctor (or other primary care provider), child and family. Doctors regularly see young children for preventive "well-child visits," and talk with parents about their child's development. Reach Out and Read helps doctors incorporate encouragement and guidance around language and literacy into checkups from 6 months through 5 years. Continually growing, we serve over 81,000 children and families in 133 programs in 29 counties; leveraging more than 800 volunteer medical providers. Reach Out and Read supports culturally diverse populations and vulnerable families, including 54 community health centers, 16 tribal communities, and 5 military facilities.
Our work in Washington state to improve school readiness encompasses three areas: Assure family access to Reach Out and Read; Enhance program quality through professional development and technical assistance; and Integrate Reach Out and Read into Washington’s Early Learning System.
Reach Out and Read Washington State is part of a national 501(c)(3) serving more than 3.9 million children. Fourteen research studies demonstrate that Reach Out and Read works. Participating parents are 4 times more likely to report reading books with their children (non-English speaking parents 10 times more likely) and more likely to say that reading is a favorite activity. Participating children have higher receptive and expressive language test scores and higher vocabulary scores.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Reach Out and Read is increasingly being recognized as an integral part of Washington’s early learning system. In the Family Engagement Strategy section of Washington’s recently awarded Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant, Reach Out and Read is the only outreach, awareness, and high-reach strategy program noted. Further, Early Literacy, including Reach Out and Read, was named a 2012 Priority Washington State Early Learning Plan (ELP) strategy by the three-way partnership between the Department of Early Learning, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Thrive by Five Washington.
We were severely challenged this year when the Governor proposed complete elimination of our state funding. However, in the budget which passed 4/2012, we retained funding! Our current need focuses on funding and capacity building to provide technical assistance to support quality and expansion. We have demonstrated the ability to rapidly expand services (from 52 to 133 programs in 4 years), providing a program that is free to families at a cost to us of less than $15/child/year. Doctors, families and communities are clamoring for the program, and we are limited only by the financial resources to do more. With a blend of public and private support, we are well-positioned to use additional resources to serve more children and families in efficient and sustainable ways.