Reach Out and Read® Program

“It takes MORE than medicine to have a Healthy Child”

OUR MISSION: Reach Out and Read prepares central Ohio’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctor’s to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital is proud to be among the largest of more than 4,600 Reach Out and Read® Programs in the country. This pediatric literacy program encourages family literacy activities in the home prior to a child entering the school system. Focus is given to families living in poverty.

Thank you!

Thank you Central Ohio for another year of supporting pediatric literacy. Thanks to you we raised over $22,000 at our 2011 Read, White and Boom event which catered to over 450 guests. Special thanks to our sponsors!

Join us for Read, White and Boom 2012 on Tuesday, July 3rd!

• During well-child visits, pediatricians give every child 6 months through 5 years old a new, developmentally-appropriate children's book to take home and keep.
• 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.
• Volunteers engage children and their families in literacy and music related activities while in the waiting area. Waiting areas are transformed into positive learning environments.

Reach Out and Read Resources

1. 2009 Annual Report (PDF)
2. National Reach Out and Read CEO, Earl Phalen
3. Reach Out and Read Research Summary (PDF)
4. Music to Literacy Connection (PDF)
5. Developmental Milestones of Early Literacy (PDF)
   English | Spanish
6. Reach Out and Read Fast Facts (PDF)

Program Statistics

2010 Fast Facts for Children Under 5 Years Old

• Total Primary Care Network Visits = 100,982
• Total Well-Child Visits = 58,645
• New Books Provided by Pediatricians = 59,522
• Gently-Used Books Distributed in Centers = 83,061
• Total Volunteers = 471
  • Literacy =  158
  • Music = 46
  • Community = 267
• Total Volunteer Hours = 5,597
  • Literacy =  3,579
  • Music = 1,291
  • Community = 727

Cumulative Program Stats Since 1998

• Reaching Out with more than 1,000,000 books!  Congratulations to the staff of the Primary Care Network!  Since 1998, our program has distributed 1,050,592 new and gently-used books.

  • New Books Provided by Pediatricians = 476,677
  • Gently-Used Books Distributed = 573,915
• Reach Out and Read Volunteers =2,300
• Total Volunteer Hours = 34,810