March 20, 2015 at 4:02 p.m.
Reach Out and Read program receives $5,000 donation from hospital volunteers
Reach Out and Read program receives $5,000 donation from hospital volunteers
Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based non-profit organization that trains and supports medical providers who give books to children ages 6 months to 5 years and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud at well-child exams. Reach Out and Read promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms. Ministry Medical Group Rhinelander pediatrics has been certified as a Reach Out and Read program site since 2007.
Reach Out and Read serves more than 4 million children and their families annually and is partnered with more than 5,200 program sites and distributes 6.5 million books per year nationwide, Ministry said in a press release.
One-hundred percent of the pediatricians at Ministry Medical Group in Rhinelander are trained as Reach Out and Read providers.
"I enjoy giving the books to my patients and it's cool to see them and their parents interact with each other and their book," said Amy Slette, MD, Ministry Medical Group Rhinelander. "The books are also a nice tool to help me evaluate their development."
"I am so grateful for being able to participate in the Reach Out and Read program," added Eunice Corujo, MD, Ministry Medical Group Rhinelander. "The smile and look of each of my patients when they are given one of the books is worth a million dollars. I enjoy the quote from Margaret Fuller that states 'Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.'"
The program has allowed Reach Out and Read partners to give away over 2000 new, developmentally-appropriate books to children ages 6 months to 5 years at each well-child exam. Children that are served by Reach Out and Read nationally score three to six months ahead of their non-Reach out and Read peers on vocabulary tests, preparing them to start school on target, and children who start school on target are more likely to reach their full educational, social, and life potential.
"It is very rewarding for me to be part of our Reach Out and Read program," said Pediatric RN Case Manager Blaine Conley, Ministry Medical Group Rhinelander. "I love the whole process from ordering the children's books to seeing the provider, child, and family interacting with the book, to the child leaving their well-child exam excited to be holding their own new book."
The Reach Out and Read national program grants about a quarter of the funding needed to operate the Rhinelander program yearly. The pediatrics department at Ministry Medical Group in Rhinelander has held book drives at the clinic and has received generous donations from associates, hospital volunteers and community members.
"We want to begin the Reach Out and Read program at a child's newborn well-child exam through the five year well-child exam, and with the generous donation of $5,000 from the Saint Mary's Hospital volunteers, our program will have books to give away for years to come," said Conley. "The volunteers have been a great contributor to our pediatric Reach Out and Read program from the beginning, through book donations and volunteer time like reading to our pediatric patients in the waiting room."
In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) created literacy resources for pediatricians and parents on the importance of talking, reading, and signing with their children to promote early learning. The AAP partnered with Too Small to Fail and Scholastic books to emphasize that literacy beginning from an infant's very first days as essential component of primary care visits.
Volunteers continue to provide many services on the Ministry Saint Mary's campus and throughout the community. They operate the hospital's gift shop, support the Community Health and Wellness Fair in April, conduct many fundraisers throughout the year including raffles, the annual frozen cookie dough sale and the books are fun sales. All profits support health and wellness programs, and projects in Rhinelander. Several volunteers also travel to the state capitol each year to advocate for the hospital.
"It is a very rewarding experience to work alongside our volunteers," said Ministry Sacred Heart-Saint Mary's Community Services Coordinator, Jennifer Frank. "They are a group of passionate and dedicated individuals with a sole purpose of giving back. They are always looking for ways to help support our community whether that is the gift of time and talent or supporting fundraising activities."
This past year, volunteers' donations were utilized to purchase fleece blankets for patients of the James Beck Cancer Center and blanket warmers for the Ministry Saint Mary's Hospital rehabilitation department. The volunteers also provided seven scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each to students pursuing a career in a healthcare. In 2014, the Volunteers of Ministry Saint Mary's Hospital provided 15,257 hours of service.
For information about the Volunteers of Ministry Saint Mary's please contact Community Services at (715) 361-2004.
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