The ROR Program

The Reach Out and Read program utilizes a three-part model to promote early literacy and school readiness:

· 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, age– and language-appropriate book to take home and keep. Siblings are not left out—they are given a gently used book to take home.

· In the waiting room, displays, information, and gently-used books create a literacy-rich environment. Where possible, volunteer readers entertain the children, modeling for parents the pleasures and techniques of reading aloud.

The ROR model is evidence-based, distinguishing it from other interventions.  Since 1991, the ROR model has been studied by academic investigators in a variety of settings, providing a growing body of peer-reviewed research on the effects of the program.  The body of published research supporting the efficacy of the ROR model is more extensive than for any other psychosocial intervention in general pediatrics.

Key findings:               (Click here for a complete list of published studies)

· Parents served by ROR are up to four times more likely to read aloud to their children.

· Children served by ROR show significant developmental gains in language and literacy and a six-month developmental edge over their peers by the age of 2.

· Children served by ROR score higher on vocabulary tests and school readiness assessments.

From the doctor’s point of view, the book can be used as an “ice-breaker” to put the child at ease and establish rapport.  The doctor also uses the child’s interaction with the book to assess developmental progress.  For example, an infant is expected to put the book in his mouth, while the same behavior in an older child might be a clue to a developmental issue. 

With only one full time employee and two part time employees, ROR-UT delivers the program to 34  participating medical facilities throughout Utah.  We have 11 more on the wait list, pending start up funding.

 

 

An 8 year old boy tagged along for his 2 year old sister’s well-child checkup. When the doctor entered the exam room, the boy said, “My sister gets a book today, right?”  The doctor smiled, and as she handed the book to the girl, the boy proudly stated, “I told her that! I told her she’d get a book and I am going to read it to her.”

Reach Out and Read Utah  ■  PO Box 521327  ■  Salt Lake City, UT  84152  ■  801-647-8038  ■  info@rorutah.org