Being exposed to the world of books and reading from infancy is an important component of wellness for children. To encourage more exposure to reading, UHS is proud to announce our UHS Childhood Literacy Program. Our goal is to add yet another step in building strong children by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read together. UHS will be providing developmentally appropriate books to children at each “well-baby” visit from birth through age 6.
To accomplish this, UHS is working with a national program called Reach Out and Read. The effectiveness of the Reach Out and Read model is recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends early literacy promotion as an essential component of pediatric care. Research shows this approach results in more frequent reading at home, accelerated vocabulary and critical brain stimulation.
The UHS Foundation is graciously funding this program for the first year. “Early childhood literacy is critical in building a foundation of health and curiosity. We are delighted to be a part of providing the necessary building blocks for this program,” says Cory Jacobs, executive director of the UHS Foundation. “When families read aloud to their young children, they can give them a better start to life.”
