Reach Out and Read inspires early literacy by providing new books for young children

The Alabama Department of Public Health is pleased to announce that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved continuation of the Reach Out and Read—Alabama Health Services Initiative.

Reach Out and Read provides new books to children from birth through age 5 during well-child visits with their pediatricians. This program emphasizes reading aloud as a regular daily practice. Healthy brain development, language skills, and positive parent-child interactions are promoted by encouraging families to read together.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said, “This collaborative project with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Alabama Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) promotes the health of Alabama’s children by encouraging social and emotional development through inspiring early literacy, early learning, and school readiness by providing books for children at routine pediatric well-care visits.”

Alabama Secretary of Early Childhood Education Ami Brooks said, “We are proud to continue our partnership with Reach Out and Read to serve even more children and families across Alabama. By placing books in the hands of parents and caregivers during well-child visits, we are not only encouraging literacy but also supporting healthy child development. This partnership is an investment in Alabama's youngest learners and their future success."

Amy Crosby, Reach Out and Read Program Director, said, “This health services initiative makes it possible for us to reach thousands more children across Alabama by aiming to fulfill our goal to increase participation by 10 percent each year over the next three years. In 2024, Reach Out and Read-Alabama distributed 154,579 books, serving more than 112,000 children statewide. We are grateful to our partners and to the CHIP program for their continued support and commitment to improving the health and well-being of Alabama’s youngest residents.”

For more information, visit https://www.roralabama.org/.