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The “Reach Out and Read Illinois” program will now be available
in Winnebago County. Participating pediatricians give their
patients a book following their checkups starting at six months
old until they’re five.
Julie Bosma, president of the Rock River Valley United Way, said
literacy programs are in need.
“We have 43 million Americans functionally illiterate,” said
Bosma. “In Winnebago County, only 32% of our children are
reading at grade level.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the program has a track record of
preparing children for kindergarten.
“We all know that developing and educating our youngest at the
most critical times in their lives is one of our foremost
obligations,” Pritzker said Thursday in Rockford. “We owe every
child growing up in Illinois the opportunity and resources they
need to live a happy and healthy life.”
Taxpayer-funded grants of up to $10,000 are available from the
Illinois Department of Public Health. Since its launch, the
Reach Out and Read Illinois program has provided $170,000 to
over 50 clinics both newly and currently implementing the
program throughout the state.
Doctors have given Illinois families more than 180,000 books
through the program.
“Our program strengthens the relationships between children and
their caregivers and lays the foundation for early learning,”
said Reach Out and Read Illinois Medical Director Dr. Mariana
Glusman. |
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