| Support Reach Out and Read in Washington | |
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Greetings!
Welcome to February--a month where stores are filled with red hearts, chocolate and flowers. You probably don't think of books when you think of Valentines. But there is no better way to show love for a child than to cuddle with him and share a book together. The most precious gift a parent or loving adult can give is to introduce a child to the world of books. It is the gift of time, the gift of a nurturing relationship, and a gift that helps build the skills that child will need to enter school ready to succeed. In the midst of a busy and often dark winter month, we hope that both love and books provide some bright light in your life. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for your support for Reach Out and Read.
Jill, Mary Ann, Patricia and Jessica ....because Reading Is Doctor-Recommended |
| FIRST GENTLEMAN MIKE GREGOIRE HELPS LAUNCH REACH OUT AND READ AT NAVAL BASE EVERETT | |  Reach Out and Read is supporting military families across Washington state. We were delighted to have the First Gentleman, Mike Gregoire help us welcome Naval Base Everett as one of our newest programs. Read the story in The Northwest Navigator. Everett is now the 6th military facility participating in Reach Out and Read in Washington state. A special thanks to Dr. Lynn Collins, a pediatrician who has worked for years to help bring Reach Out and Read to families in Everett. This clinic joins the Navy Hospital programs in Bremerton and Bangor, along with programs at Fairchild Air Force Base, Madigan Army Hospital, and McChord Air Force Base. We are deeply grateful for the commitment of all military personnel stationed in Washington or serving abroad, and are pleased that our program supports military parents and their children. Learn more about our Reach Out and Read Military Initiative. |
| EARLY LEARNING PARTNERS PRESENT TO THE SENATE K- 12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE | |
Reach Out and Read describes support for parents as their child's first teachers as part of a statewide education system.
The Washington State Senate Early Learning K-12 Commitee held a work session on Early Learning, featuring Dr. Bette Hyde (Department of Early Learning), Nina Auerbach (Thrive by Five Washington) and Randy Dorn (OSPI) on January 19th. After a detailed background on their Early Learning Partnership activities and the Early Learning Plan, Dr. Sells and Dr. Woodruff presented about the work of Reach Out and Read Washington State to the committee. See Senate video testimony at TVW.org, with Reach Out and Read starting at 1:30 into the recording. Reach Out and Read is working with legislators to maintain our funding in the 2011-2013 biennium, so that we can continue to leverage private and federal dollars and serve over 65,000 children and families across Washington. Reach Out and Read Washington Director Dr. Sells also tesified before the House Education Appropriations Committee about the importance of early learning and Reach Out and Read. Watch the House video testimony starting at 45:50 to learn more. |
| REACH OUT AND READ'S ENHANCED TRAINING HELPS DOCTORS PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SUPPORT TO PARENTS | |
Video vignettes are highlight of new Reach Out and Read training.
This month the long-awaited on-line training program for Reach Out and Read providers becomes fully integrated into our work. Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based program with proven results. Implementing the program with fidelity and taking the program to scale efficiently are key goals in our quest to help children be ready for success in school. Official training accreditated by our national program has always been required of medical providers before they can participate in the Reach Out and Read program. The new training provides free Continuing Medical Education credits, while demonstrating how Reach Out and Read is implemented at each visit from ages 6 months through 5 years. See Dr. Shawn Palfrey in a video training example from the 5 year old visit. If you know of a medical practice that might be interested in starting Reach Out and Read, please contact our Program Director, Jessica Mortensen. |
| UNITED WAY OF PIERCE COUNTY SUPPORTS REACH OUT AND READ COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS | |
Community Investment for 2011-2013.
Creating county-based partnerships for Reach Out and Read is a key part of our expansion and sustainability strategy. We are delighted to announce the support of United Way of Pierce County as we strive to further connect our 16 Reach Out and Read programs with Pierce County early learning efforts. United Way funded 117 local human service programs. Reach Out and Read is one of 18 programs that received funding for the first time, even though the Community Solutions Fund is down 53 percent from the $3.2 million available three years ago. The announcement regarding United Way of Pierce County can be found in the December 17th edition of The News Tribune.
For more information about the other early learning efforts United Way of Pierce County supports please visit the First 5 Fundamentals website. |
| WASHINGTON STATE VIDEO GOES NATIONAL | | |
Video messaging helps tell the Reach Out and Read story. 
We are excited that our Washington State video garnered attention, and was able to be edited for a national audience. See the new version, featuring Dr. Sells, Dr. Woodruff and families from Washington State on Reach Out and Read's U-Tube channel. The Washington-specific version is found on the Reach Out and Read Washington home page. DVD copies are available to help build community partnerships to support Reach Out and Read in Washington state. Please contact Patricia Hennessy if you are interested in using the video to raise awareness about Reach Out and Read. |
| HELP PUT BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN | | |
Support Reach Out and Read while you shop
 You can help doctors put books into children's hands without spending an extra dime! If you do any shopping online via Amazon.com, a portion of your purchase can support ROR across Washington state. Simply go to www.reachoutandreadwa.org and click on the Amazon.com logo on the left bottom corner of the page to begin your shopping. If you click through and make a purchase, at least 4% will go directly to Reach Out and Read in Washington! This is an ongoing partnership for us, so please take this extra step before shopping at Amazon and share this opportunity with your friends and family.Please consider also making a direct tax-deductible donation to Reach Out and Read: Donate on Line. Just $5 can help place a beautiful book where it belongs, in a child's home.
Photo courtesy of Pediatrics Northwest PS, Tacoma
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FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK | | |
Reach Out and Read Washington State is now on Facebook. If you are a Facebook user, we would appreciate your support as we work to build our presence and increase awareness about our work. Please indicate you LIKE us. If you could also suggest our Facebook page to your friends, that would go a long way in helping us spread our message about early literacy - thanks! |
| ABOUT REACH OUT AND READ WASHINGTON STATE | |
Reach Out and Read helps prepare children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Our evidence-based, proven program leverages the volunteer time of doctors to make literacy a standard part of well-child visits. Reach Out and Read supports parents as their child's first teacher. Through 116 programs in 28 counties, over 700 medical providers serve more than 65,000 children and families.
Founded in 2007, Reach Out and Read Washington State supports programs across the state. We are part of the national, evidence-based Reach Out and Read Program, now in its 21st year.
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