DOTHAN PEDIATRIC CLINIC 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

DOTHAN PEDIATRIC CLINIC
Reach 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. Our program builds on the unique relationship between parents and
medical providers to develop early reading skills in children. Doctors, nurse
practitioners, and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read’s
evidence-based model into regular well-child checkups by advising parents about
the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books
to children to take home and keep. The program begins at the 6-month checkup
and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in
low-income families, where children are most at risk for reading failure. Every child
in the program enters kindergarten with a home library of at least 10 books and
parents who understand the importance of reading aloud.
In 2013, Dothan Pediatric Clinic celebrated 10 years as a Reach Out Read
program site, prescribing over 135,250 books to children from six months to
five years of age. What an impact that has had in preparing Houston County’s
children to succeed in school and in life.
14,400
14,000
2013 HIGHLIGHTS
• Celebrated 10 years as a Reach Out and Read-Alabama
program site
• Participated in the summer campaign, Clifford and The Big
Storm, in which Alabama’s families were encouraged to Read
Together and Be Prepared. DPC shared Norman Bridwell’s book
to help families understand the importance of preparedness in
disasters, as well as helping young children cope more
effectively once a disaster has occurred. Ten children and their
families visited the WTVY News Weather Center and had lunch at
the clinic while the weather personalities read the book to the
children and encouraged those families present to create a family
disaster plan.
• Awarded a Microgrant from the Wiregrass Foundation
• Awarded a grant from the Southeast Community
Foundation
• Donation from CB&T provided 100 books for children in the
Wiregrass
If you change the beginning of the story, then you change the whole story...
and you can be a part of the story for Alabama’s children!
Make the early years count with a prescription to read. Together, we can
give children opportunity, equality, and hope...one book at a time.