At Reach Out and Read-Alabama, families, clinicians, and partners all represent a critical piece of the puzzle. By working together, we have created a holistic and nurturing environment that supports children's growth and development, ensuring that the final picture is one of success and fulfillment for every child.

Each engaging experience during a well-child visit reminds me of the importance of nurturing a love for reading and reinforces the power of early literacy. Observing the interaction between the caregiver and child is similarly rewarding, as reading fosters bonding in this relationship. When pediatricians give young patients a book during their wellness visit, families become aware of the impact this simple act of shared reading has on a child’s development. Each interaction connects the pieces of the Reach Out and Read-Alabama puzzle and completes the vision of a world where every child has the relationships necessary to learn and thrive.

By working together, families, clinicians, and partners create a holistic and nurturing environment that supports children’s growth and development, ensuring every child’s final picture is one of success and fulfillment.

Reach Out and Read-Alabama is now available in 80 medical sites across Alabama; and during well-child visits, we shared an incredible 154,579 books and facilitated 224,506 precious face-to-face conversations between caregivers and young children. These moments are the cornerstone of our work, and we are thrilled you have been a part of these moments that happen in our program sites each day.

We want to establish Reach Out and Read as an essential piece of the pediatric care puzzle.
Our updated vision, mission, and values provide the corner pieces for this vital work.

A note from the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics President…

Connecting the pieces of the Reach Out and Read-Alabama puzzle

Each engaging experience during a well-child visit reminds me of the importance of nurturing a love for reading and reinforces the power of early literacy. Observing the interaction between the caregiver and child is similarly rewarding, as reading fosters bonding in this relationship. When pediatricians give young patients a book during their wellness visit, families become aware of the impact this simple act of shared reading has on a child’s development. Each interaction connects the pieces of the Reach Out and Read-Alabama puzzle and completes the vision of a world where every child has the relationships necessary to learn and thrive.

By working together, families, clinicians, and partners create a holistic and nurturing environment that supports children’s growth and development, ensuring every child’s final picture is one of success and fulfillment.

Families are the primary caregivers and advocates for their children. As their first educators, families lay the foundation for their child's growth and development. They are the cornerstones of our puzzle and their involvement strengthens their child's support system and enhances the overall quality of the Reach Out and Read-Alabama program because they integrate the information learned from these visits into their routine.

The Cornerstones

The Unique Shapes

Reach Out and Read-Alabama clinicians are the unique shapes that fit perfectly to address each child's specific needs. Clinicians help create a safe and stimulating learning environment tailored to children's needs.

Bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the program, clinicians deeply understand child development and possess specialized skills to meet the different needs of our children and families. They ensure each child receives a tailored and comprehensive program by working collaboratively with parents, partners, and each other.

View a list of our program sites here.

Reagan’s Clinic is so excited to be a part of Reach Out and Read-Alabama. As a new primary care clinic and a first of its kind with a developmental and behavioral pediatrician and two nurse practitioners in Madison, our focus is on special needs children. We really wanted to be a part of Reach Out and Read-Alabama because of the profound impact reading has on children's development in building early language skills.

Having this program available allows us to share those benefits with our community in an easy and meaningful way. The children look forward to getting their book at each visit -- just that small act can take a stressful time at the doctor and turn it into a positive experience for the child and family.

In this photo, one of our patients receives his first book from our providers, Dr. Marc Hultquist; Kresta Sunderman, CRNP; and Kristi Krueger, CRNP.

The Connecting Pieces

Enhancing our work, we connected it piece by piece with our partners, including organizations, government agencies, and community groups, who provide additional resources, expertise, and support to enhance our work through valuable knowledge in education, health, social services, and advocacy. By collaborating with our program, partners extend their reach and provide extra resources to support children and their families.

Amy Crosby, Program Director, and Elizabeth Dawson, MD, FAAP, medical champion, attended the Reach Out and Read National Conference in May in New York.

We want to establish Reach Out and Read as an essential piece of the pediatric care puzzle. Our updated vision, mission, and values provide the corner pieces for this vital work.