Reading aloud to young children is the single most effective tool for developing language and literacy skills. Covenant Community Care and the Rochester Rotary Club have joined hands to make sure the children of southwest Detroit have the basic language skills they will need to learn to read.

Reach Out and Read is a national program that prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age.
In the exam room, doctors and nurses speak with parents about the importance of reading aloud to their young children every day and offer age-appropriate tips and encouragement. The pediatric primary care provider gives every child 6 months through 5 years old a new, developmentally-appropriate children’s book to take home and keep. In the waiting room, displays, information, and books create a literacy-rich environment. When possible, volunteer readers entertain the children, modeling for parents the pleasures and techniques of reading aloud.

Learn more about Reach Out and Read at www.reachoutandread.org <http://www.reachoutandread.org/> . If you would like to organize a gently used book drive to keep the clinic’s book cart well stocked, please contact Dr. Mary Hakim at mhakim@covenantcommunitycare.org.
PHOTOS:
A major help in this project were Dr. Mary Hakim (center) and Rochester Rotarians Johanna Allen (left) and Linda Eastman (right) Cary Griggs (not pictured)
Literacy-Rich Waiting Room at Covenant Community Care Clinic
Pediatric patient enjoying her time in the waiting room
Child eager to look at all the new books!
These colorful, brand-new books are irresistible!