Greetings!

Legislative Update - Focus on Special Session

Devastating potential cuts include Reach Out and Read. Last week the Governor released the list of likely cuts she will present to the Legislature later this month. Buried on page 27 (33 of the PDF) is complete elimination of state funding for Reach Out and Read.  We are very concerned about the impact of devastating cuts on children and families during this very difficult economic time. The "cumulative toll" of the cuts over time is immense. In early literacy, an account which once held $3 million state dollars is empty, with the only remaining early literacy line item in DEL's budget being $300,000 for Reach Out and Read.  The Governor now proposes to eliminate that. While we sympathize with the budget situation, and we absolutely appreciate the Governor's support for early learning, we think this cut is "penny wise and pound foolish." 

In 4 short years we have established a statewide system of 127 evidence-based programs serving over 81,000 children and their families!  We have leveraged those state dollars more than 7-fold in federal and private funding, and together this leverages another $6.8 million in donated services through our volunteer medical providers.  We share the data and the success of all of our efforts with the state, as shown in our most recent report to DEL.  We are asking the Governor to reconsider, and legislators to include this very small line item--which represents only $2 per child per year of state investment, but has a proven impact, and broad reach. Please see our legislative one pager for information you can share with your legislators.  Thank you! 

Now serving more than 81,000 children and their families! Families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, thus better prepared to achieve their potential. With 14 studies demonstrating consistently positive findings, it is no longer necessary to "prove" Reach Out and Read works. It is time to implement the program with fidelity and take it to scale, so that child outcomes improve. Therefore our theory of change to improve school readiness outcomes for children through Reach Out and Read encompasses three inter-related activities: 1) Provide the Reach Out and Read program to families; 2) Enhance program quality through professional development and technical assistance; and 3) Integrate Reach Out and Read into the Early Learning System. 

We collect and analyze program data every 6 months, and present our impact in a formal report. On Halloween we finalized and submitted our latest report to DEL. This summarizes the services provided during the last fiscal year--a time when $150,000 in state funds supported our work. We are thrilled to share with you that during that year Reach Out and Read medical providers gave 122,145 books to young children and their parents during well-child checkups. Our services are continually growing--in July 2011 our programs reported a total of 78,507 well child visits in the previous 6 months, compared to 58,687 the previous July. Thus in one year's time we have increased one-on-one Reach Out and Read checkups with families by 20,000 visits within a 6-month period!  But just as important as the large scope of our services, is the diversity of the population we serve. Collectively our programs serve mostly low-income families, many of whom are English language learners, with a significant presence in tribal communities and rural areas where families are often not receiving other parenting and early learning supports. 

Maternal Child Health Leaders Focus on 

Reach Out and Read Washington State  

Help Put Books in the Hands of Children

Support Reach Out and Read while you shop, or make a donation.

 If you shop at Amazon.com, a portion of your purchase can support us. 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  share this opportunity with your friends and family. 

Reach Out and Read Washington State on Facebook

Reach Out and Read Washington State is on Facebook.  Please 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!