The nationwide model literacy program Reach Out and Read prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. The more than 3.9 million families served annually by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, with stronger language skills, and a six-month developmental edge over their peers.
In Los Angeles, Reach Out and Read serves 116,000 children via 143 health care centers, hospitals, and pediatric clinics. Volunteers help Reach Out and Read by reading to children in literacy-rich pediatric waiting rooms, organizing local book drives, building bookcases or painting murals in reading corners, or by providing other support tasks at Reach Out and Read’s office. By reading books aloud to these early learners, volunteers are boosting children’s interest in reading and modeling effective reading techniques to parents. Volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate, and must be willing to make a substantial time commitment, as the screening process is rigorous and is unique to each clinical location.
Contact: Send a message directly through the site and select the location at which you are interested in volunteering by clicking on the blue hand next to its Site Name.
Debbie Navarro, LA County Program Director, (818) 838-7218, or email debbie@rorlosangeles.org
Reach Out and Read, 5371 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 210 , Los Angeles , CA 90036
www.facebook.com/reachoutandread
on Twitter @ReadTogether
Photo credit: Reach Out and Read
