Inside Reach Out and Read Colorado
Reach Out and Read Colorado gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. Reach Out and Read Colorado trains health care providers to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to prescribe books to children at health check-ups from 6 months to 5 years of age, with a special focus on children growing up in poverty. By building on the unique relationship between parents and health care providers, Reach Out and Read Colorado helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success.
Partner clinics receive books, training, and support from Reach Out and Read Colorado. Over 1,700 health care providers across the state have been trained to use books as an exam room tool to discuss early literacy with parents and evaluate child development.
At health check-ups for children ages 6 months to 5 years, the health care provider shares a brand new, developmentally- and language-appropriate book with the child and talks with the family about reading together. When the visit is over the family leaves with the book and a prescription for reading
Families that participate in the program read to their children more often, sharing books two or more times per week. Children’s language and reading skills are improved, helping young brains to develop and strengthening bonds between parent and child.
Reach Out and Read Colorado gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.
Donate Now Our Staff
Meredith Hintze
MPA - Executive Director
Favorite Children's Book
A Chair for my Mother by Vera B. Williams
Perry Jowsey
MA - Development Director
Favorite Children's Book
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Maureen Maycheco
MA - Communications Director
Favorite Children's Book
The King Who Rained by Fred Gywnne
Dan Carlson
Office Manager
Favorite Children's Book
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett
Rebecca Oehl
Special Events Manager
Favorite Children's Book
Eloise by Kay Thompson
Jessica LeMaire
Development Assistant
Favorite Children's Book
A Fly Went By by Mike McClintock
Annie Immele
Program Manager
Favorite Children's Book
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Judy Duarte
Southern Colorado Regional Coordinator
Favorite Children's Book
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Eric Carle
Mary Vozar
Southwest Regional Coordinator
Favorite Children's Book
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Cindy Phelps
Northwest Program Coordinator
Favorite Children's Book
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Board of Directors
Simon Hambidge, MD, PhD
Board Chair | Chief Ambulatory Officer at Denver Health and the Chief Executive Officer of Denver Community Health Services (DCHS)
Favorite Children's Book
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Steve Vogler, MD, MSPH
Medical Director | Pediatrician at Sam Sandos Westside Health Center
Favorite Children's Book
How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Frederick W. (“Tim”) Damour, Esq.
Treasurer | Community Volunteer
Favorite Children's Book
The Story of Babar [Historie de Babar], by Jean de Brunhoff , 1931, English version, Random House, 1933.
Jodi Hardin
Secretary | Co-Executive Director, The Civic Canopy
Favorite Children's Book
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Anne Norris Chandler
Community Volunteer
Favorite Children's Book
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Ken Davis, PA-C
Director of Community Integration, NW CO VNA
Favorite Children's Book
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
Honey Goldberg
Community Volunteer
Favorite Children's Book
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster
Suzy Jaeger
Senior Vice President, Chief Patient Experience and Access Officer, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Favorite Children's Book
Hey Al by Arthur Yorinks
Dori Kaplan, Esq.
Community Volunteer
Favorite Children's Book
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
Bobby King
Director, Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, Kaiser Permanente
Favorite Children's Book
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
Maria Montoya, CPA
Director, Kundinger, Corder & Engle, P. C.
Favorite Children's Book
Pigs Rock! by Melanie Davis Jones and Bob Staake
Simone D. Ross
Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, SCL Health
Favorite Children's Book
Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss
Denise Vega
Published Author, Freelance Writer, Faculty and Writing Instructor
Favorite Children's Book
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman
Mary Zavadil, MD
Pediatrician at Children's Medical Center
Favorite Children's Book
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Jenny Mills
Director of the Program Management Office, Denver Public Schools
Favorite Children's Book
The Three Questions by Jon J Muth
Kristi Novinger
Portfolio Leader, Point B
Favorite Children's Book
If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss
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