Improving early childhood literacy and school readiness through Reach Out and Read (ROR) program

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Early Childhood Education
• Public Health

Background:

• The Reach Out and Read (ROR) program partners with physicians to promote early literacy.
• Children require strong vocabulary and language skills for school readiness.
• A decline in ROR book distribution and parent counseling was observed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To increase book distribution at well-child visits (WCVs) by 80% for ages 6 months to 5 years.
• To improve physician counseling on reading aloud benefits by 75%.
• To enhance early literacy through pediatric interventions.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a new workflow for efficient book distribution.
• Conducted ROR program training for all physicians and residents.
• Posted reading tips in exam rooms and surveyed parents post-visit.

Main Results:

• Book distribution at WCVs increased from 30% to 96%.
• Physician counseling rates rose from 26% to 87%.
• Parental reporting of reading aloud 4+ days/week increased from 56% to 80%.

Conclusions:

• The QI project successfully boosted ROR program implementation in a pediatric clinic.
• Interventions led to increased book access and parental engagement in reading.
• The program positively impacts children's literacy acquisition and school readiness.