Reach Out and Read Rhode Island
Reach Out and Read Rhode Island is an evidence-based program that incorporates books into well-child visits and is the only literacy program endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
How does it work? During a child's wellness visit, reading together is encouraged for healthy growth and development. Medical providers also use books for developmental screening and model to caregivers how to engage with the book and their child.
Families take home a new book - at no cost to the family or providers - starting at the first well-care visit through age five, helping build a home library of books.
More than 80% of a child’s brain is formed during their first three years, and what they experience during this window can irreversibly affect how their brain develops. Attention and nurturing from a loving parent or caregiver supports healthy brain development—and one of the best ways to engage young children is to read books together.
Spending time together while reading aloud helps to create strong parent-child bonds and promotes healthy brain development. Children who are read to more often have improved language and listening skills, experience stronger emotional connections to their loved ones, and gain a lifelong love of reading.
About RORRI
We make reading aloud part of pediatric care so that families make reading a bedtime routine at home.
Our Impact
- 109,712 well-child visits where a new book and literacy guidance materials were given
- 423 trained medical providers serving RI families
- 66 medical sites throughout our state
Support Us
We serve 50,000 children and provide 100,000 books each year with support from the Rhode Island community.