Reach Out and Read Midwest

Reach Out and Read believes that all families should have access to books and the meaningful moments that are created by shared reading with children. By integrating reading into pediatric primary care, advising families about the importance of reading aloud, and giving new books at well-child visits, we foster enduring family bonds between caregivers and their children that promote healthy childhood development. At the simplest level, we provide the training, resources, and support that clinicians need to make books, reading, and meaningful moments accessible to every child they serve.

Sitting at the intersection of health and education, we break down barriers for under-resourced communities and lift up storytellers of all backgrounds, focusing on the strengths of parents and caregivers. Furthermore, we undertake and promote leading research into healthy child development.

Reach Out and Read Midwest is our newest local Affilaite, serving the children and families of Nebraska and Iowa. By incorporating books into pediatric primary care and encouraging parents to read aloud with their children, we strengthen parent-child relationships essential for early relational health and boost children's language skills, all while instilling a lifelong love of reading in children.