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About US

Connected Families. Healthy Kids. Prepared for Success.

We empower healthcare providers to talk with parents of young children about the importance of reading aloud at regular well-child visits, with a special focus on children growing up in poverty.

By building on the unique relationship between parents and healthcare providers, Reach Out and Read Colorado helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills and healthy family relationships, so children enter school prepared for success.

Prescription
for Reading

At regular well-child visits for children from birth to 5 years, the healthcare provider shares a new, developmentally- and language-appropriate book with the child and talks with the caregiver about the importance of reading together. When the visit is over, the family leaves with the book and a prescription for daily reading.

Books
& Support

Partner pediatric offices receive books, training, and support from Reach Out and Read Colorado. Nearly 2,000 healthcare providers across the state have been trained to use books as an exam room diagnostic tool to discuss early literacy with parents and evaluate child development. 

Resilient
Kids & Families

Research shows that families that participate in the program read to their children more often. Children’s language skills and vocabulary are improved, helping young brains to develop and strengthening bonds between parent and child, before a child ever enters school. When children are set up for success from a young age, the possibilities are endless. 

Our Partners

Reach Out and Read Colorado relies on partnerships with socially conscious organizations to help spread the word of our important work in early literacy and child development and to reach as many families in our Colorado communities as possible.

Built on & Backed by science

Reach Out and Read is the only national pediatric literacy model endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Reach Out and Read’s effectiveness is consistently supported by independent, peer-reviewed research. Studies show that our model has a significant effect on parental behavior and attitudes toward reading aloud, and that children who participate in our program demonstrate higher language scores. Our impact has been documented in ethnically and economically diverse families throughout the nation.

Families participating in Reach Out and Read are 250% more likely to read to their children.

Children’s language development is improved significantly with Reach Out and Read.

Increased exposure to Reach Out and Read led to larger increases in language scores.

American Academy of Pediatrics Reiterates Shared Reading Supports Children’s Long-Term Health and Well-Being through Relationships

In an updated policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasizes the latest research showing the significance of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships as a protective buffer against the biological harms of toxic stress on children – as well as a key toward building resilience.
[ American Academy of Pediatrics ]

Encouraging Parent–Child Book Sharing: Potential Additive Benefits of Literacy Promotion in Health Care and the Community

Parents who received both a book and guidance through Reach Out and Read about the importance of reading were more likely to engage in literacy activities with their children through book sharing at home.
[ Early Childhood Research Quarterly ]

Our Team

Patty Fontneau

Chief Executive Officer

Favorite Children's Book:

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Email

Jessie Chase

Director of Programs

Favorite Children's Book:

Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco
Email

Judy Duarte

Southern Colorado Regional Coordinator

Favorite Children's Book:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Eric Carle
Email

Aria Faddis

Development Manager

Favorite Children's Book:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Email

Annie Immele

Senior Program Manager

Favorite Children's Book:

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae
Email

Myung Oak Kim

Grant Writer

Favorite Children's Book:

Guess How Much I Love You
Email

Kathie King

Accounting & Operations Manager

Favorite Children's Book:

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess
Email

Kelcey Kuntz

Eastern Plains Regional Coordinator

Favorite Children's Book:

The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Email

Katie Malone

Senior Marketing Manager

Favorite Children's Book:

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Email
amy malik - development director

Amy Malik

Director of Development

Favorite Children's Book:

Corduroy by Dan Freeman
Email

Cindy Phelps

Western Colorado Regional Coordinator

Favorite Children's Book:

Are You my Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Email

Emily Siskind

Project Coordinator

Favorite Children's Book:

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Email

Our board of directors

Scott Hild

Board Chair

Alliance Partner, ChaiOne

Favorite Children's Book:
My Side of the Mountain by Jean George

Leslie Mitchell Assini

Board Member

Communications Consultant & Author

Favorite Children's Book:
The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover by Jon Stone

Steve Bain

Board Member

Attorney, Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley

Favorite Children's Book:
Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

Emma Bodine, CPA

Board Member

Audit Manager, Kundinger, Corder & Engle, P.C.

Favorite Children's Book:
The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt

Serena Bruzgo

Board Member

President, Craig Hospital Foundation

Dee A Daniels, RN, CPNP

Board Member

Program Director, Sie Center for Down Syndrome, Children’s Hospital Colorado

Suzy Jaeger

Board Member

Senior Vice President, Chief Patient Experience and Access Officer, Children's Hospital Colorado

Favorite Children's Book:
Hey Al by Arthur Yorinks

Jon Lehmann

Board Member

Senior Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs,
Comcast Cable

Favorite Children's Book:
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Bridgitt Mitchell, MBA, Ed.D.

Board Member

Sr. Director of Training & Quality,
ZERO TO THREE

Joe Nimmons

Board Member

Colorado Region President, Huntington Bank

Ruben Rueda

Board Member

Vice President, FirstBank

Jessica Sanchez

Board Member

Vice President, Quality & Operations, Colorado Community Health Network

Favorite Children's Book:
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Michelle Shiffman, MD

Medical Director

Pediatrician, Denver Health

Favorite Children's Book:
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Becky Takeda-Tinker, PhD

Board member

President & CEO,
Colorado State University Global

Kerri Webster

Board Member

Vice President, Chief Analytics Officer, Children's Hospital Colorado

Kimberly White, MD

Board Member

Pediatrician & Clinic Director, Every Child Pediatrics

Favorite Children's Book:
To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss

Steve Vogler, MD, MSPH

Founder

Retired Pediatrician,
Denver Health Westside Clinic

Favorite Children's Book:
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen

Our Provider Advisory Board

Ashley Fredrickson, NP | Kids First Health Care

Nicholas Gilman, MD | Denver Health

Deniz Kolozs, MD | Kaiser Aurora Centerpointe

Kristie Malik, MD | Special Care Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado

Cherie Nuanes, PA | Denver SAFE Center and PEDUC

Samantha Stough, DO | Colorado Mountain Medical

Michelle Shiffman, MD, RORCO Medical Director | Denver Health Pena

Our Associate Board

Sam McEvans

Ruth Carver Bondurant

Jessica Slattery

Ashleigh Stepanian

Celeste Debnam

Alana Macy

Ashley Muramoto

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