Chemung Valley Health Network

Reach Out and Read of the Southern Tier

A Pediatric Early Literacy Program

"......Come Read With Us"

HISTORY...
ROR was created in 1989 by a group of pediatricians and educators in an effort to fight illiteracy in Boston's impoverished communities. ROR improves literacy among children living in poverty by reaching them at an early age and providing parents with the information, support and materials they need to make books a part of their children's lives. ROR uses the power of a supportive relationship between parents and health care providers to help children learn to read.

RoaR of the Southern Tier is modeled after the Boston Program. The goals of our program are:

to increase positive parent/child interactions;
to encourage families of children to read or, more accurately, to share books with their children;
to increase the pleasure as well as the skills of reading and being read to; and
to help the children we serve enter school with an affinity for books, ready to read, and able to keep up with their peers.

HOW RoaR WORKS...
In the physician/clinic waiting room, community volunteers read stories to children and model reading aloud techniques for parents.
In the examining room the physician or nurse practitioner gives an age appropriate book to the child, comments on the child's abilities and counsels parents on how to use books to support healthy development.
At each well child visit (6 months-4 years) the child is invited to take home a new, developmentally and culturally appropriate children's book. Over time, the child acquires a home library of books to share with family and friends.

OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED...

While we have enthusiasm and commitment from many areas of the community, in order to sustain the program, we need continued support.
Here are the ways in which you can help:
Volunteer Readers
Fundraising
Publicity

If you are interested in becoming involved with RoaR or for more information:
* Call 607-737-2028
* Fax 607-737-2016
*E-mail L. Swarthout