REACH OUT AND READ IS NOW SPONSORED BY EBMS!
It is with great pleasure that United Way of Yellowstone County has met a milestone goal with the local Reach Out and Read program. We have secured a new sponsor for the program and look forward to the program growing in our community. Our hope is with the dedication and work of the new partnership, we will be able to take the program to scale in Yellowstone County and reach more children and families who can benefit from the program. Special thanks to our first two year sponsor Border States Electric and now our new sponsor EBMS!
"Through this program, The Children's Clinic is reaching those children whose families may not have
adequate resources to buy books and who do not have access to early education
programs of daycare and therefore most need our services."
~ Shannon Steppler-Yonts, Pediatrician at The Children's Clinic
Goal:
Prepare the youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.
Our Work:
United Way of Yellowstone County, in partnership, with The Children's Clinic and Border States Electric joined together to bring "Reach OUT & Read" to local children and families.
The program builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop early literacy skills in young children via the existing healthcare infrastructure. During regular pediatric checkups, Reach OUT & Read pediatricians give new, developmentally appropriate books to children, ages 6 months through 5 years, and advise parents about the importance of reading aloud.
Reach OUT & Read medical providers work with families to prepare all children to enter kindergarten ready to read, learn, and succeed. Research shows that children who start school on track are more likely to reach their full educational, social, and life potential.
Support of Program:
The partnership of United Way of Yellowstone County, The Children's Clinic, and Border States Electric brought the program to Billings in 2014. With this unique opportunity, over 10,000 children were given books over the first two years. As we move forward with the newest partner on board, EBMS, we look forward to continuing the great work of the program and also look forward to growing the program to both the Billings Clinic and Riverstone Health as we take the program to scale in our community,