Asbury Park Pediatrics gets a visit from a local politician
Pallone reads aloud as part of 'Reach Out and Read' program
Children at Asbury Park Pediatrics received a special visit today from Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., [above, at center] who showed up to read to them as part of a national campaign to improve literacy.
The event draws focus to the national nonprofit “Reach Out and Read” program. The nonprofit program is made up of a network of medical providers that seeks to prepare America’s youngest children to succeed in school by training doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud, and to give books to children at checkups from 6 months through 5 years, according to their website.
“Reach Out And Read has proven to be among the most effective strategies to promote early language and literacy development and school readiness,” Congressman Pallone said in a prepared release.
Asbury Park Pediatrics is one of nine Reach Out and Read program participants in Pallone’s congressional district, the release said. It provides books to more than 10,000 children and their families, annually.
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 reading aloud, the release said. Bilingual books are available in 12 languages.
Reach Out and Read-New Jersey serves children at nearly 80 locations across the state, reaching more than 70,000 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers each year, according to the release.
Over 6.5 million books have been distributed by Reach Out and Read doctors and nurses to more than 4 million children and their families annually at 4,946 pediatric practices, hospitals, clinics and health centers in all 50 states, the release said.
“I will continue to fight in Congress to fully fund innovative approaches to literacy programs that contribute to the success of Reach Out and Read and help to better prepare New Jersey’s children for success,” Pallone said.
Pallone was recognized as one of the “Champions of Reach Out and Reach” by the national organization this year.
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