St. Luke’s Reach Out and Read program has received a $60,000 grant from the Carbon County Community Foundation. St. Luke’s University Health Network, a longtime partner of Reach Out and Read, will use the money to help meet the literacy needs of pediatric patients in Carbon County.

Reach Out and Read prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by training doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and by giving books to children at checkups from 6 months through 5 years. Through Reach Out and Read, each child starts kindergarten with a home library of up to 10 new, carefully chosen books and a parent who has heard at every health supervision visit about the importance of books and reading.

“This project has the potential to impact 1,500 children ages 6 months to 5 years in Carbon County in one year,” said Rosemarie Lister, Community Health Liaison for SLUHN. Participating practices are: Palmerton Pediatrics, Lehighton Family Practice, Nesquehoning Primary Care and Nesquehoning Rural Health Center.

Health care providers attend a one-hour continuing medical education course online on how to instruct parents on techniques for reading aloud to their children and the importance of making reading a fun part of daily life, Lister said. The program emphasizes teaching families how to enjoy looking at board books and naming pictures with infants, the importance of using rhyme and repetition with toddlers, and asking open-ended questions when reading with preschoolers. The program not only encourages reading, but singing, talking and playing as well.

Also, as part of the grant, St. Luke’s Community Health will be providing books and materials that promote oral health literacy as Carbon County is located in a dental health provider shortage area. Reach Out and Read provides an opportunity to align with the American Academy of Pediatrics Brush, Book and Bed Program where families can learn more ways to value oral health through the fun and engaging reading.

“Studies show that building early literacy is critical to developing reading ability and succeeding in school and life,” said Dianne Jacobetz, MD, FAAP, St Luke’s Physician Group, Regional Medical Director of Pediatrics. “This grant enables our providers to teach parents about the importance of reading aloud with their children every day and give developmentally appropriate books to children. It is a wonderful opportunity for both St. Luke’s family health care providers and families in Carbon County.”