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Graduation Day Comes Early for Five Year Old
Five-year-old Calli can't spell "graduation" yet but she dons her bright blue cap and gown proudly as she lines up with the other members of the raising readers "Class of 2005". Calli loves books and has entirely memorized "How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon," a book given to her by her doctor at Kennebec Pediatrics. Calli's love of books is thanks to her parents who read to her regularly and a unique health and literacy program called raising readers, which provides age appropriate, high quality children's books to children just like her all over the state. Calli's mother says that "Reading became a part of our routine and an opportunity to turn off the TV. Even from the time she was a year old, when Calli and I read together she would answer my questions to her by pointing to pages in the book." Funded by the Libra Foundation, a Maine-based philanthropy, the book program is the largest of its kind ever launched in a single state. Unlike many other book programs, raising readers focuses on the youngest children and involves doctors and nurses in the process of educating parents about the benefits of reading. Deb Deatrick, a Vice President at MaineHealth, is quick to point out that "this program is not about teaching children to read, it is about helping preschoolers become "ready to learn". By the age of five, a child will have accumulated twelve books – their very own library. Research shows that adult literacy depends in part on learning and development that occur in infancy and early childhood. "Babies operate on a use it or lose it principle. Reading to children from an early age stimulates brain development" says Dr. Pat Patterson, a pediatrician at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and member of the raising readers Advisory Committee. Many children who do not live in environments that promote language and literacy growth are at risk for failing to develop essential literacy skills. According to the Maine Department of Education, one in seven Maine adults cannot read well enough to function in daily life. The lack of basic literacy skills has been linked to problems such as unemployment and teen pregnancy. raising readers is designed to help prevent these problems and promote the health of all Maine children and families. During the past five years, raising readers has grown to include all counties in the state. Jerry Whalen, Vice President of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, attributes the successful statewide spread of the program to a very successful collaboration between MaineHealth and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, two of the largest healthcare systems in the State. "We have had a very positive experience with this collaboration. raising readers has given us an opportunity to engage regional physicians in a dialogue focused on helping children adapt healthier lifestyles, thus reducing the risks often associated with poor literacy." The program is available at no cost to all health care providers in Maine who see children for well child care between the ages of birth and 5 years. A total of 369 sites participate, including hospitals, medical offices, adoption centers, and free standing birth centers. Over 500,000 books have been distributed to date. Calli heads off to kindergarten next year. The next time she has to "graduate"- she will be ready – she was raised to be a reader. |
