Milwaukee, Wisc. – An innovative partnership between Reach Out and Read Wisconsin and the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation will allow medical providers at area Watertown Regional Medical Clinics and ProHealth Medical Group clinic to promote reading among parents of infants and young children. At routine well-child visits, families will receive a free, age-appropriate book and fun, eye-catching information about the importance of reading with their child.
In addition, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin is piloting a “prescription for reading” program. The prescription will enable 2 through 5-year-old children to collect a special, free book at their local library when signing up for a library card.
“The mutual commitment to the power of positive early relationships and the benefit of shared reading makes this partnership, between Reach Out and Read and TalkReadPlay — supported by the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, a natural fit,” says DeDe Williams, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin Executive Director. “We are excited to offer more resources for families and caregivers in the area while piloting innovative ways to connect them with local libraries.”
The partnership brings together the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation and its TalkReadPlay initiative with Reach Out and Read, which has 308 participating sites in medical clinics across Wisconsin. Together, the organizations are excited to provide valuable tools and resources that support early development, because time spent reading, singing, and playing with young children has the greatest influence on their early brain development. These everyday moments strengthen the relationship between parents or caregivers and their children and set the foundation for all future learning, and ultimately, success in school and life.
Participating clinics include Watertown Regional Medical Center clinics in Watertown, Johnson Creek, Juneau, Lake Mills and Waterloo and ProHealth Medical Group clinic in Watertown. Libraries participating in the partnership include Hustisford Community Library, Jefferson Public Library, Johnson Creek Public Library, Juneau Public Library, LD Fargo Public Library (Lake Mills), Karl Junginger Memorial Library (Waterloo), and Watertown Public Library.
“Our focus is on building strong families and thriving communities, and the power of something as simple as reading together each day can have a measurable impact on our kids’ future success,” says Ben Wehmeier, President and CEO of the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation. “Every family in our region deserves the knowledge and opportunity to set their children up for a bright future, and that’s exactly what this new partnership helps achieve.”