title
Adopt and present a resolution recognizing the distribution of one-quarter of a million books dispersed to Solano County children through the Reach Out and Read Pediatric Literacy Program and the participating pediatric clinics and Solano County organizations that support the program (Supervisor Brown)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Library Services (Library) recommends the Board adopt and present a resolution recognizing the distribution of one-quarter of a million books dispersed to Solano County children and recognizing participating Solano County Reach Out and Read pediatric clinics and Solano County organizations that provide funding and in-kind support for the Reach Out and Read Program.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Reach Out and Read program began in 2000 with four pediatric clinics in Fairfield, Vallejo, and Vacaville participating through the Solano County Library. A total of 2,671 books were distributed that year. Currently, there are 12 Reach Out and Read Clinics participating in Solano County and the program recently reached the milestone of distributing 250,564 books since the beginning of the program.
Reach Out and Read clinics are the result of a unique partnership between Solano County Library Foundation, Solano County Library, and the medical providers at the clinics. Solano County Library Foundation raises the money to fund the books for six of the 12 clinics supported by Solano County Library. Kaiser Permanente and NorthBay Healthcare Foundation finance the books for their clinics. Additional funding and in-kind donations are contributed by Travis AFB Spouses’ Club, Soroptimist of Central Solano, Free Books for Kids, and First 5 Solano.
Solano County Library administers the program, provides training for the pediatricians and purchases and distributes the books to the clinics. To further promote reading aloud between parents and children, the Library aids in creating a print-rich environment with books and posters placed in the waiting and exam rooms at the clinics.
Medical providers at Reach Out and Read clinics volunteer their time to complete Reach Out and Read training and then distribute the books to their patients, counseling parents about the importance of reading to their children.
Research shows that Reach Out and Read works. Studies find that parents who get books and literacy counseling from their health care provider are more likely to read to their children, read to them more often, and provide more books in the home. Low-income children who participate in Reach Out and Read score significantly higher on vocabulary tests and show improved language development-one of the strongest predictors of school success.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no cost to the General Fund as the Library is funded entirely through property and sales tax revenue and books for the Reach Out and Read Program are funded through the Solano County Library Foundation, Travis AFB Spouses’ Club, Kaiser Pediatric Clinic, and NorthBay Healthcare Foundation.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to adopt this resolution or recognize this milestone; however, this is not recommended as it provides an opportunity to recognize organizations that support the Reach Out and Read program in Solano County and the importance of early childhood literacy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County Health & Social Services and First 5 Solano also participate and support the Reach Out and Read program.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION