It is an honor to be in touch with each of you, from the Reach Out and Read National Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, the birthplace of Reach Out and Read.
I want to start with a note of appreciation and gratitude for Meredith Hintze’s leadership to Reach Out and Read Colorado over the past decade. During Meredith’s tenure, Reach Out and Read Colorado became a model for our national network for its focus on program quality, provider engagement, and community partnerships. Seeing the growth of program sites in all corners of the state, as well as the depth of commitment from the medical and early childhood communities, has been a great source of inspiration for us – and we thank the Reach Out and Read Colorado Board of Directors, the amazing staff – and all of you for the support you have given to help make this happen.
This year is a special one for Reach Out and Read, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary. While we remained true to our evidence-based model – because we know the impact it has on child outcomes, on parent behavior, even on pediatric practice – we are excited about the work ahead.
Brian Gallagher, Reach Out and Read National CEO
This year is a special one for Reach Out and Read, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary. While we remained true to our evidence-based model – because we know the impact it has on child outcomes, on parent behavior, even on pediatric practice – we are excited about the work ahead. Yes, we want to continue to reach more children and more families by integrating more pediatric teams into our network. But we also have ambitious plans to focus on research, evaluation, and a policy agenda that supports the transformation of pediatric healthcare for young children. We have a strong foundation on which to build and grow, especially because of the strength of our network, the many, local public-private partnerships that fuel our program.
I say all the time that while Reach Out and Read has national reach, we are truly a community-based program, one that thrives as a result of supporters like you. Thank you – and join us, as we celebrate three decades of impact and growth and plan for the decades ahead.
