New public policy agenda focuses on strengthening health care for and early literacy in young children
Reach Out and Read announces public policy agenda to strengthen public health, reduce systemic inequities
The policy agenda advocates for young children and their families and recommends that policymakers and partners create and/or improve systems crucial to public health and early literacy, including widespread support of Reach Out and Read’s transformative model.
Reach Out and Read’s proven primary health care model supports both early childhood development and fosters the bonds critical for the well-being of children, families, and communities. The policy agenda says the nation must address three social drivers that impact children starting at birth: persistent poverty, barriers to quality health care, and access to important educational opportunities.
Read more from our statewide coordinator, our medical champion and one of our program medical consultants below and how this agenda will benefit the families we serve statewide.
From Amy Crosby, Statewide Coordinator
The Reach Out and Read National Center recently unveiled its 2024-2026 Policy Agenda, which complements the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 Legislative Priorities. This agenda can guide efforts to promote healthy early relationships, early literacy, and education for children under five, and serve as an advocacy tool to raise awareness about maternal and child health, as well as child abuse and neglect prevention.
With 73 program sites and a growing number of programs, we are proud to support over 81,000 children in Alabama. The evidence-based Reach Out and Read model benefits children and families nationwide, showing potential for further expansion to promote healthy child development and early learning. By leveraging pediatric primary care visits, this model enhances family support and early relationships, contributing to improved health and educational outcomes for all children.
If your clinic is not currently a Reach Out and Read-Alabama program site but you are interested in joining this impactful program, please reach out to me at acrosby@roralabama.org to get involved.
From Marsha Raulerson, MD, FAAP, Medical Champion
This year, the National Reach Out and Read nonprofit, now 35 years old, released its policy agenda challenging decision-makers at every level to prioritize the needs of all young children and their families. 4.4 million children are now served nationally by the program, including over 81,000 in Alabama. The policy addresses three social drivers of health, including persistent poverty, barriers to quality health care, and access to critical educational opportunities.
What could this mean for Alabama pediatricians and other primary care physicians seeing children from birth to age 5? At those most important well-child visits, we can connect with families—guiding how to establish positive relationships that support healthy development and mental health for a lifetime. Sharing a free book that is age and culturally appropriate at the beginning of the visit is a positive way to start the exam, break down barriers, and assess developmental skills.
First, we must see them! Alabama Medicaid must appropriately fund care for our most vulnerable children. They need and deserve the same quality care that is given to children above the poverty level. Primary care physicians need to be paid appropriately to keep our doors open. No medical practice should refuse to see children because of their payor.
In Alabama, we have been able to expand Reach Out and Read to 5 vulnerable populations through special funding from the Department of Early Childhood Education, our state Medicaid program, and the Children’s Health Insurance (All Kids.) Public funding must continue and increase to make appropriate books available for all children. The 7 ACHN (Alabama Coordinated Health Network) regions could make Reach Out and Read participation an integral part of their quality assessments.
Pediatricians can partner with their local communities to support services for young families. We can advocate for Early Head Start, for Family Resource Centers, early childhood mental health, and financing for quality childcare. We can support the advocacy work of our Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics with state agencies and our elected officials.
From Brittany T. Anderson, MD, Anderson Family Care Medical Consultant
I fully support the recently published Reach Out and Read policy agenda. Encouraging childhood literacy at a young age is so important. At my clinic in Marengo County, one of my favorite parts of the well-child visit is presenting a parent or young child with a book to take home. By doing so, I know that I’m helping to facilitate bonding time with that parent and child and also doing my part to help create an interest in reading for the child and, hopefully, the entire family!
As a child, I loved having my own books that I read over and over again and took care of as my own. However, several systemic barriers limit children’s ability to have new books of their own. Reach Out and Read helps to eliminate this barrier, and supporting ROR’s policy agenda helps to reduce these systemic inequities that negatively affect literacy, development, and overall health.