Reach Out and Read Program   Primary Objectives: Every child from birth to 5-years-old gets a strong start in caring relationships, language development, and literacy experiences Families know how to help their children develop language, literacy, and relationships Community groups, parents, physicians and other providers all share the responsibility for giving children a “smart start” Physicians: Primary care physicians are in an excellent position to influence the attitudes and behaviors of parents who are their child’s first teachers. The physicians in the McFarland Clinic Pediatric Department have become leaders in educating parents about early literacy and recommending that families make reading with their children a daily habit. At every check-up from 6-months to 5 years physicians give each child an attractive, new board book to take home. Then they encourage parents to read aloud daily at home to build their child’s skills, enhance parent-child relationships, and spark a joy of reading. Physicians also support the volunteer readers in the reception area and help provide children’s books in the reception area and in each of the exam rooms. This Reach Out and Read program is being expanded to include other primary care physicians and clinics that serve poor families in the area. By working together and taking advantage of well-child check-up from birth to 5 years, we can reach parents of approximately 9,000 children each year to remind them of the value of reading. Community Partners: Community partners are supportive in a number of ways. They provide parent handouts and many of the board books which physicians give to children. They donate their time as volunteer readers in areas where children and parents are waiting, and they contribute the quality children’s books to read to these children. Based on their experiences, training, and expertise, community members share reliable information about early language and literacy development with everyone concerned.