171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read Charleston is an innovative clinic-based literacy program modeled after the national
Reach Out and Read (ROR) program developed at Boston Medical Center and supported by the American Academy of
Pediatrics. It was implemented by the pediatric primary care services at MUSC Children's Hospital in October
1999 and was a collaborative effort among MUSC College of Nursing, department of pediatrics, the child life
department, MUSC Volunteer Services, and the Trident Literacy Association.
The program recognizes that literacy is a part of overall health and that the ability to read is integral to
personal health and well being.
Reach Out and Read Charleston targets low-income families during their scheduled well-child visits. There
are three key components to the program:
- new, developmentally and culturally appropriate books are given to children six months to five years of age by physicians during well-child visits;
- anticipatory guidance is provided to parents about literacy activities for children; and
- volunteers and students read to children, and thus, model reading aloud for parents in the waiting room.
Children who participate from early infancy will receive nine books by their fifth birthday. Parents receive
bookmarks with age-specific literacy information and a prescription to read to their child each day. If parents
are identified as having low literacy, they are referred to the Trident Literacy Association. For more information
about this program, contact Sue D. White, MSN, RN, clinical care coordinator, at (843) 792-7909 or e-mail
whites@musc.edu.
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