On April 2nd Alexander County Health Department was the site for a ribbon cutting event to introduce the Literacy Corner. Children listened the book Llama, Llama Red Pajamas read by the Community Partnership Outreach Facilitator Belinda Bost and received a “Llama, Llama” book along with a stuffed llama. The Literacy Corner is furnished with materials funded from Smart Start's Reach Out and Read program activity. Alexander County Health Department's Reach Out and Read clinical location joins more than 4,779 programs nationwide that are preparing America’s youngest children to succeed in school.Reach Out and Read's evidence-based model is included in regular pediatric checkups by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children. The program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5. Families served by Reach Out and Read program read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills, and better prepared to achieve their potential.
