Keeping Minds HealthyProgram teaches doctors and nurses to
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Juliana Maximo was a little surprised the first time she walked out of Oquirrh View Community Health Center with a children's book. Not only had she been given advice about how to keep her child healthy, the doctors wanted to make sure she read to her daughter. "I wasn't expecting it," the Taylorsville mother said. "But I was happy that they would do that." Oquirrh View is participating in a coordinated nationwide effort to promote literacy, one of many medical offices giving away a book at every wellness visit for children between 6 months and 5 years old. Doctors and other medical professionals who have joined "Reach Out and Read" are trained to encourage parents to read to their children. Utah has 30 "Reach Out and Read" programs, which bring books to more than 46,000 children annually. The program continues to grow in the Beehive state, with about a quarter of low-income children in the target age group being served. New state funding of $100,000 will allow more than 15,000 new children to participate in 2009. The majority of that money will be spent on books. As Utah doctors have heard about the program, they've been eager to participate, having already recognized the need in their patients, said Carey Crockett, state program director for Reach Out and Read Utah. "We haven't really had to solicit or court any new programs," she said. Reach Out and Read, which began as an initiative by Boston pediatricians, has been linked in national studies to improved language arts skills for participating children. A Salt Lake City doctor is currently doing a study reviewing the impact on Latino children. Results may be available in 2009. At Oquirrh View, a pediatrician found out about the reading program several years ago, and she has since trained other staff. Though it's hard to know the exact impact on their clientele, the center director said she has noticed children flocking to books in their lobby now instead of the TV. "If their brothers and sisters have books, then they want books - even if they don't read," said Linda Stearns, the center director. "We want to get them early." The clinic primarily serves low income families, most of whom do not have insurance. Maximo, the Taylorsville mother, now has three children benefiting from Reach Out and Read. Though she would have read to her children even without the program, it has helped her build her home library. And she believes reading has made a difference in her children. "I think they pay more attention when you talk with them," she said. "And I think they notice you care about them.” |