University
of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff
| May 14, 2001 |
Contact:
Carol Mattar 312-996-1583; pager 888-393-0223 |
UIC's Reach Out and Read Program
The Reach Out and Read program was created in 1989 by a group of pediatricians and educators in Boston in an effort to fight illiteracy in the city's impoverished communities. In January 1997, the literacy development program at UIC received a small seed grant from the national Reach Out and Read organization to begin a program here. The UIC clinics currently serve more than 4,000 young children who are potential beneficiaries of the Reach Out and Read program.
Here's how Reach Out and Read works at UIC:
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In the clinic waiting room, community volunteers read stories to children and model reading aloud techniques for parents.
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In the examining room, the pediatrician or the nurse practitioner gives an age appropriate children's book to the child, comments on the child's abilities and counsels parents on how to use books to support their child's healthy development.
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At each visit, the child is invited to take home a new, developmentally and culturally appropriate children's book. Over time, the child acquires a home library of books to share with family and friends.
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Used and donated books are placed on a bookshelf, and are available for siblings to chose from and take home as well.
- UIC -