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News from Reach Out and Read Washington State
In This Issue
Washington State Legislative Update - Speak Up for Reach Out and Read!
Joining Forces Military Initiative
Reach Out and Read Programs Grow
Walla Walla Newspaper Story
Spokane Radio Show
Put Books in the Hands of Children
Follow Us on Facebook
About Us
Support Reach Out and Read in Washington

Your Amazon shopping you benefit Reach Out and Read programs!  

 April 2011

Greetings!

 

Spring break is here (or recently was) for kids across Washington state.  We bet the legislators are looking forward to the post-session break after a grueling session.  As they head into the final days, we hope they continue to keep the needs of our youngest citizens in the forefront of their decision-making.      

Fundamentally the policy decisions that include Reach Out and Read, the budget choices in the public and private sector that support Reach Out and Read, and the stories in newspapers and radio, are only meaningful if real impact is happening for children and families in communities across this state and nation.  With our evidence-based program being implemented throughout Washington, we know our work is doing just that. We hope you'll enjoy our latest news! 

Please raise your voice for young children and families.

With appreciation,

The Reach Out and Read Washington State Team

....because Reading Is Doctor-Recommended

 

SENATE BUDGET CONTINUES REACH OUT AND READ FUNDING, FINAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY

Legislative banner
  

Reach Out and Read funding is in Discussion.  Despite incredibly difficult budget cuts, investing in evidence-based early learning programs is vital to our state's future. We are grateful for the Senate budget (released last Tuesday) which continues Reach Out and Read's state funding.  Budget negotiations now commence to reconcile the House and Senate budgets. We thank Senate leaders for including Reach Out and Read, and appreciate House efforts to encourage their leadership to support Reach Out and Read in the final budget.

 

As U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in the Governor's Education Roundtable with Washington legislators, "Study after study after study shows that when we have high quality early childhood education programs, they do an extraordinary job of changing students' lives. We need a lot more children who enter Kindergarten ready to learn and ready to read, with literacy and socialization skills intact."

 

Please contact your own legislators to show your support for Reach Out and Read and Early Learning.  We're in the final days in Olympia. Thank you for your continued support!

 

 MICHELLE OBAMA AND DR. JILL BIDEN ANNOUNCE "JOINING FORCES" NATIONAL INITATIVE

 

Commander and First Mike @ Madigan
Touring Reach Out and Read at Madigan Army Hospital 

Reach Out and Read Washington supports Military Families.  

Last week First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden announced the

Joining Forces Initiative; a national effort to support and honor America's service members and their families. Reach Out and Read is proud to be a national partner, committing to increase our military programs to reach 200,000 children each year. Reach Out and Read Washington State's partnership with the First Gentleman to highlight our six military programs dovetails with this, and so the announcement is also highlighted on the Governor's website.

 

REACH OUT AND READ PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW

 

father baby Reach Out and Read Now Serves more than 68,000 Washington Children Per Year!   Reach Out and Read programs recently completed their 6 month progress reports for the second half of 2010.   Highlights of the impact we are having in Washington State:

 

  • There are now 119 Reach Out and Read programs in 28 Washington counties.
  • More than 800 doctors and other medical providers give books to young children at well-child visits through the program.
  • Reach Out and Read participating offices serve more than 68,000 children ages 6 months through 5 years.
  • In 2010 Reach Out and Read programs distributed over 108,000 books!

Many thanks to all of our programs--from Neah Bay to Wellpinit; and to those who help support them!

 

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS HELP WALLA WALLA

REACH OUT AND READ PROGRAMS SERVE FAMILIES

Walla Walla valley For more than a year, we've been partnering with the Walla Walla Valley Early Learning Coalition, as part of Thrive by Five's Culture of Literacy Initiative.  Reach Out and Read Washington Director Dr. Jill Sells appreciates being asked recently to write a guest column for The Walla Walla Weekly.  Read "Doctors Prescribe Books: The Reach Out and Read program and local Early Learning Coalitions provide free books for families." 

Sharing stories from local programs and partners, the article closes with this quote from Representative Maureen Walsh. "If parents can engage in early learning, and show children their enthusiasm, they can assist their children in learning. Reading together each day will go a long way to help a child want to be a great learner. The legislature has come to recognize the tremendous value in programs like Reach Out and Read that empower parents to be their children's first teachers. Doctors providing free books to families during office visits, and advocating to young parents about the importance of reading to their kids, strengthens the parent-child bond and goes a long way in assuring that kids will be ready for school."

KYRS RADIO IN SPOKANE HOSTS ONE-HOUR SHOW ON REACH OUT AND READ AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

Listen to kyrs logoReach Out and Read Washington on "Dr. Kim Talks"  Dr. Kim Thorburn on www.kyrs.org radio in Spokane features Reach Out and Read via interviews with Dr. Jill Sells (Reach Out and Read Washington State Director) and Jill Johnson (Community Minded Enterprises, Spokane). Hear how Reach Out and Read's community partnerships in Spokane and across Washington state are supporting parents and young children, so that children develop the early literacy skills that are vital to later success in school.

HELP PUT BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN

Support Reach Out and Read while you shop

Dr.Woodruff and familyYou 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

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK 

Find 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 119 programs in 28 counties, over 800 medical providers serve more than 68,000 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.
  
CONTACT INFORMATION
Reach Out and Read Washington State

Dr. Jill Sells - Regional Director   

[email protected]
Dr. Mary Ann Woodruff - Medical Director  [email protected]
 Jessica Mortensen, MLIS - Program Director  [email protected]  
OFFICE INFORMATION:

Telephone - 206-524-3579
Fax - 206-524-4768
  

Address - 155 NE 100th Street - Suite 301, Seattle WA 98125