Midwest - Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read Midwest

Reach Out and Read Midwest

We envision a world where all parents have daily, meaningful, language-rich interactions with their children.

Give the gift of Reach Out and Read to a family in Nebraska and Iowa today.

Reach Out and Read Midwest, serving the children of Nebraska and Iowa.

By incorporating books into primary care, we strengthen parent-child relationships essential for early relational health, as encouraging parents to read aloud together with their children enhances bonding and boosts children’s language skills.

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Why Are We Different

We're evidence-based

We're scalable

We're cost-effective

> See the evidence

83,717
young children served

167,434
well-child visits

125,710
books distributed

THE PROBLEM

In Nebraska and Iowa, only 39% of infants and toddlers are read to daily (State of Babies, 2023). This early interaction is critical, as over 80% of a child’s brain develops within the first three years, shaping lifelong cognitive, social-emotional, and health outcomes. Reading with a loving caregiver promotes language skills, emotional bonding, resilience, and reduces toxic stress. Yet, many children — especially those in poverty — enter kindergarten without essential skills, impacting their future success. By ensuring all children have early support, we help close inequality gaps and build a stronger society.

OUR SOLUTIONS AND OUTCOMES

Reach Out and Read is uniquely positioned to address these challenges faced by children and families in Nebraska and Iowa. We’re scaling our evidence-based model to reach ALL children in these two states, particularly in under-resourced communities, as a tool to combat inequity, address social drivers of health, and alter the trajectories of children’s lives.

Our evidence-based model and two-generational approach is connected to:

Increases in shared reading across parents and children: Parents who receive Reach Out and Read are more likely to read daily with their children.

Significant improvements to children’s language development: Including proven improvement in language development by 3-6 months and higher receptive and expressive language scores, particularly when exposed to a higher “dosage” of Reach Out and Read over their first five years.

Unparalleled access via pediatric primary care: More than 90% of children in the US through age 5 visit a medical provider annually.

Mitigation of the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): The positive experiences promoted through Reach Out and Read offer a simple and effective strategy to facilitate a safe and supportive environment and buffer against the most harmful aspects of ACEs.

The potential to partner for impact: Reach Out and Read fosters early childhood development by integrating support from clinical settings and local communities to cater to the unique needs of Nebraska’s and Iowa’s children.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Clinicians use wellness visits to educate parents about positive parent-child interactions, language skills and the developing brain.
Clinicians encouraged parents to read aloud with their children beginning at birth and offer age-appropriate guidance.
Clinicians use books as a tool to assess developmental milestones.
During well-child visits, clinicians provide children from birth through age 5 a free, developmentally appropriate book to keep.

Backed by peer-reviewed research, Reach Out and Read promotes positive interactions that foster healthy child development during the critical early years.

“This program helps to bring a positive light to education and certainly helps to bring pleasure to a visit that at times can be frightening if vaccines are involved.”

– Erica Tubbs, PA-C, Greater Sandhills Family Healthcare, Nebraska

OUR PARTNERS

Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Nebraska Children and Families Foundation/Nebraska Growing Readers Initiative
Lozier Foundation
Nebraska Partnership for Mental Healthcare Access In Pediatrics (NEP-MAP) supported through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Better World Books
Nomi Health
Otto Schoitz Foundation
Bechtel Trusts

MEET THE TEAM

Laura Holms

Founding Executive Director
Contact Laura Holms

Laura Holms, Founding Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Midwest, has spent over 25 years shaping nonprofit organizations and creating programs that transform the lives of children and families. From leading fundraising and development initiatives at Catholic Charities and Iowa Health Foundation to directing programs at Amanda the Panda Grief and Loss Center, Best Buddies Iowa, and Urbandale Community Action Network, Laura has consistently focused on expanding opportunities for underserved communities, supporting immigrant and refugee youth, and ensuring children have the resources they need to thrive.

Her passion for building strong, inclusive communities and her deep commitment to literacy made her the natural choice to lead Reach Out and Read Midwest. With a career rooted in impact-driven leadership and community empowerment, Laura brings both vision and hands-on experience to the role, ensuring that every child in the region has access to the books, support, and meaningful connections that lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

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Kristin Christensen

Nebraska Program Manager
Contact Kristin Christensen

Kristin is a Nebraska native and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in education. Kristin taught Special Education and Academic Intervention at the elementary level in public schools for nine years. She has a deep passion for increasing literacy skills in the foundational years of kids’ lives to set them up for success.  

Kristin also has a background in nonprofit and worked for a local advocacy organization that seeks to protect educators, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and elected officials from harassment. Kristin is excited to have joined the ROR team and leapt at the opportunity to continue to build up a network of family and literacy support in Nebraska among healthcare sites! 

Kristin’s primary role as Program Manager is to directly support sites with implementation of the Reach Out and Read program, through frequent contact with site coordinators, visits with clinic staff, and collaboration between sites and community resources. Kristin also offers supports and assistance with clinics interested in beginning a Reach Out and Read program at their site.

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Rebecca Nyangufi, MPH

Iowa Program Manager

Rebecca Nyangufi, MPH, leads as the Iowa Program Manager for Reach Out and Read Midwest, bringing a wealth of experience in program development and community impact. She has managed initiatives such as New Day’s partnership with the Arlington School District in Texas, providing food bags to students facing food insecurity, and has strengthened maternal health programs at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), enhancing comprehensive women’s health services, improving program quality, and expanding access for families.

With a deep commitment to maternal and child health, Rebecca is dedicated to advancing health equity, supporting families holistically, and building programs that empower children and parents to thrive. Her leadership ensures that Reach Out and Read’s mission of fostering early literacy and healthy development reaches communities effectively and sustainably.

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Maria Gorham

Iowa Program Manager

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Laura Holms

Founding Executive Director
Contact Laura Holms

Kristin Christensen

Nebraska Program Manager
Contact Kristin Christensen

Rebecca Nyangufi, MPH

Iowa Program Manager

Maria Gorham

Iowa Program Manager

Reach Out and Read Midwest Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee is responsible for guiding and championing the work for Reach Out and Read Midwest across Iowa and Nebraska. Advisory Committee members provide strategic thought partnership, support brand building, lend their professional expertise and network, and help build relationships with major donors and private and public institutional funders. Below are the members of Reach Out and Read Midwest’s Advisory Committee.

Eric Buchanan, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Buffett Early Childhood Fund

Betty Medinger, Retired Senior Vice President, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation

Stephanni Renn, Vice President of Sixpence / Early Childhood, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation

Jessica Seberger, NEP MAP Program Director, Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services

Susan Toohey, Director of Educational Initiatives, Lozier Foundation

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© 2026
Reach Out and Read is 501(c)3 nonprofit that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

Physical address:
Reach Out and Read
308 Congress St., 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02210

Mailing address:
Reach Out and Read
P.O. Box 411868
Boston, MA 02241

info@reachoutandread.org
Phone: (617) 455-0600

Reach Out and Read Midwest

Ruth Coleman, PhD
National Senior Director of Growth
Contact Ruth Coleman

Kristin Christensen
Nebraska Program Manager
Contact Kristin Christensen

Office and meeting space is provided by Nebraska Children and Families Foundation located at:

215 Centennial Mall S #200, Lincoln, NE 68508

2610 Harney Street, Omaha, NE, 68131

Join Our Community

Physical address:
Reach Out and Read
308 Congress St., 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02210

Mailing address:
Reach Out and Read
P.O. Box 411868
Boston, MA 02241

info@reachoutandread.org
Phone: (617) 455-0600

Reach Out and Read Midwest

Ruth Coleman, PhD
National Senior Director of Growth
Contact Ruth Coleman

Kristin Christensen
Nebraska Program Manager
Contact Kristin Christensen

Office and meeting space is provided by Nebraska Children and Families Foundation located at:

215 Centennial Mall S #200, Lincoln, NE 68508

2610 Harney Street, Omaha, NE, 68131

© 2026
Reach Out and Read is 501(c)3 nonprofit that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

Join Our Community