Article Contributed on: 9/29/2009 4:53:56 PM
Based on research done by the Reach Out and Read program, 56.2 percent of parents in Colorado read to their children (age 5 and under) on a regular basis. Yet, 53 percent of White, non-Latino, 82 percent of Black, non-Latino and 85 percent of Latino children in 4th grade are unable to read at the appropriate reading level, according to the Children's Defense Fund. The Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics (The RMYC) offers a program to all patients called Reach Out and Read to help promote parents reading aloud to their children.
"The RMYC are honored to have been part of the Reach Out and Read program for 12 years. We were one of the first two Reach Out and Read sites in Colorado. All of our providers give out new, age-appropriate books to patients between the ages of 6 months and 5 years following their well-child visit," said Jill Friedentag Fishman, The RMYC' community relations and volunteer manager. "Our entire staff realizes the importance of books in the lives of young children and we strive to emphasize that importance to the parents of our patients."
The RMYC is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high quality health care services to children and adolescents in Colorado, regardless of their insurance status or a family's ability to pay. Through The RMYC' participation in Reach Out and Read during the last 12 years, thousands of children have had access to books that their families may not have been able to afford. From January 1st to June 30th of this year, The RMYC has provided 4,445 children age 6 months to 5 years with new books following their well-child visit. In addition, The RMYC also accepts donated books from the community, which helps to put a book in every child's hand that comes into the clinics regardless of age.
The RMYC' providers discuss with parents tips for reading to children of all ages. For example, reading to a 6-month-old may seem more difficult than reading to a 5-year-old. However, parents can start off by showing their 6-month-old the book, letting them feel it, put it in their mouth, throw it on the floor, etc. While it may not seem like it, this is all part of getting children familiar with books. The books that The RMYC provide are available in Spanish, English and bilingual (Spanish and English) versions.
"All of the providers truly embrace this program, not only because the patients love receiving books, but because it also allows us to do a development assessment with our patients and evaluate how the child reacts to the book," said Dr. Alfie Meister, a pediatrician at The RMYC' Aurora clinic. "Some children have never seen a book, let alone touched one. I make sure to explain to parents that reading to their children is more important than anything I can do in this office for their future."
Reach Out and Read offers some reading tips for parents to help make reading with their children part of the daily routine:
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Make reading part of everyday whether it's on the bus or at bedtime. Reading together in the evening can become an important part of the bedtime ritual.
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Have fun and make the story come alive. Reading books can be part of the special time spent between parent and child. Create voices for the story characters and use your body to tell the story.
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Only reading for a few minutes is OK. Young children can only sit for a short time, but as they grow, they will sit longer.
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Talk about the pictures. Not all books need to be read to tell a story. Children who love books learn to read.
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Engage in conversation while reading. Ask your child questions about the story like, "What do you think will happen next?" and "What is this?" Also, let your child ask questions as well. Use the story as an opportunity to talk to your child about familiar activities and objects.
The RMYC often have volunteers to come in to read to children. Sometimes the books and stories the volunteers read to the clinics' patients are their first exposure to any kind of book. Reading to the children at the clinic gives Karen Damon, one such volunteer, the opportunity to add important minutes of reading time, while modeling the joy of reading to both children and their families.
"As a retired kindergarten teacher, I have always enjoyed reading to my students. This opportunity has allowed me to expose The RMYC' patients to good literature," said Karen. "Almost instantly, I can tell where each child's strength lies as well as whether or not they have ever been exposed to books. It's so great to watch their eyes light up when they sit down to listen to a story."
The RMYC began as a single clinic and has grown to become one of the largest pediatric safety net providers in the U.S., serving more than 35,000 children through 50,000 patient visits each year. The RMYC' services are provided through a network of two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, more than 20 smaller off-site satellite clinics and three traditional clinics in Aurora, Denver and Thornton.
The RMYC have a unique and holistic approach to health care, providing children with a "medical home." In addition to traditional medical services and the Reach Out and Read program, The RMYC' also offer a food/clothing bank, a holiday gift assistance program, social work services, secondhand smoke exposure education, a weight management clinic, Postpartum Depression screening and tobacco cessation assistance as well as access to asthma clinics.
The RMYC want to ensure that children in Colorado receive the proper care they need and deserve. To make an appointment, you can reach The RMYC Denver office via phone at 303-869-2182, the Aurora office at 303-360-8111 and the Thornton office at 303-450-3690.
If you are interested in helping The RMYC, please contact Jill Friedentag Fishman. She can be reached at 720-343-1785 or via email at jill@rockymountainyouth.org. You can make a difference - donate money, donate books, donate goods or donate your time today! For more information, please visit our Web site at rockymountainyouth.org.