Reach Out and Read transformed the way I care for my youngest patients. Let's make it accessible for every family in Minnesota!
Years ago, when I first started my pediatric residency, walking into an exam room all by myself with a family and child waiting for me on the other side of the door felt daunting. There I was, fresh out of medical school and suddenly I had real families with real children relying on me for care!
One thing that helped? A new program I had just learned about in my residency program called Reach Out and Read.
Walking into the exam room with a book in hand helped me to relax as a trainee, knowing that I had something to create a bond with a family, to start the office visit off on the right foot and get my bearings. It especially helped me with families who didn’t speak English as a first language. Sharing the book jumpstarted our connection, transcending barriers, building trust, and showing compassion.
Since then, Reach Out and Read has become a cornerstone of my practice. At first glance, giving a book and talking to parents about reading during a checkup might seem like a small gesture, but it creates a profound ripple effect on a child’s development and a family’s daily routine. The evidence tells us that the program works; families read more often together, children show improved language abilities, and we even see improved attendance rates at well-child visits. But even more compelling to me is what I see firsthand in my exam room.
Today, just as much as in my residency, Reach Out and Read helps me build a connection with the kids and families I care for, sharing a moment of joy as a toddler sticks out their hands for a book or sharing a moment of hope and comfort as a family copes with a difficult time. This is a program that I believe every family deserves to receive and that every clinician should have access to as they seek to provide the best care they can.
Reach Out and Read Minnesota relies on the support of our community to make our program happen. Our work is only possible thanks to our amazing network of clinicians, healthcare workers, volunteers, community partners, and donors. As 2025 draws to a close, I have one humble question for you: how will you step up for our youngest learners and their families in the year to come?
Along with thousands of other clinicians across Minnesota, I rely on this program to help me care for my youngest patients. Tens of thousands of families rely on this program to get the books and guidance they need. Whether it's a donation, volunteering, rallying support for the program at your clinic, or giving away your collection of gently used books, your support can be transformational in the lives of Minnesota families.
With gratitude and warm wishes to you and your loved ones to close out 2025,
