Cause for concern
Thirty-four percent of American children start kindergarten without the skills they need to learn to read. Children living in low-income communities are especially at risk. Children who start out with reading difficulties are more likely to remain poor readers and fall behind in school. In Wisconsin, children in urban and rural communities are equally at-risk.

Reach Out and Read
Read Out and Read prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Reach Out and Read makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric care to ensure children grow up with books and a love of reading. Ages 0 to 5 are the most critical for brain and language development, and parents and caregivers play a crucial role in their child’s development.

The evidence-based Reach Out and Read model is supported by 14 peer-reviewed research studies. Parents involved with Reach Out and Read are four times more likely to read with their children. Parents for whom English is a second language are 10 times more likely to read with their children. Children participating in Reach Out and Read score significantly higher on vocabulary tests and start kindergarten with a six-month developmental edge over their peers. No other early childhood literacy program has this kind of evidence base or impact. Learn more.

Our role
Reach Out and Read Wisconsin is a statewide Coalition of the nationwide school readiness initiative Reach Out and Read, Inc. With more than 60 programs in the state, we provide services to more than 44,300 children and families and distribute over 72,000 new books annually. The Coalition provides technical assistance, quality assurance and book support to participating programs, and works to expand the program.

Reach Out and Read Wisconsin is an initiative of Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin and a partnership with American Family Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Reach Out and Read Wisconsin was founded in 2010 and named The Jim and Jessica Doyle Partnership: Promoting Healthy Kids and Early Learning in Wisconsin.

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Reach Out and Read Wisconsin Coalition staff and advisory council members.