Reading and Educational Achievement and Development (READ) Program: Promoting early childhood health and literacy

Background: It has been well established that socioeconomic factors such as education are key to achieving a high quality of life. Unfortunately, learning to read is a challenge for many of our nation's children. To address the importance of early childhood development, in 2004, the State of Michigan initiated Project Great Start to encourage reading to every child under the age of five in efforts to improve educational achievement in Michigan schools. In response, an urban health system developed the Reading and Educational Achievement and Development (READ) Program. The goal of READ is to promote early childhood literacy skills and health education for families. Methods: The 5-session program enrolls children between the ages of three and five and their parents or legal guardians. Participants are primarily recruited through the health system's computerized database. While children engage in literacy building activities which incorporate health education themes, parents interact with health care providers discussing child development, immunizations, physical activity, nutrition, oral health, and injury prevention. At the end of each 90-minute session, families receive a book to take home reinforcing the topic of the day and encouraging continued reading. Results: Since the program's start in 2005, eighty families have participated in the program. Ninety-seven percent of adult respondents were African American, 82.1% were between 20-40 years of age, and 77.6% had at least some college education or higher. Overall, 100% percent of respondents reported a score of good or more on overall satisfaction.