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Children and families will soon be reading more together thanks to a new initiative at Mercy Perry.
Beginning this month, Mercy Perry is introducing the Reach Out and Read program at all their primary care locations in Perryville and at Mercy Internal Medicine and Pediatrics – 212 Hospital Lane. The new program provides books at no cost to patients ages six months to five years old during their annual well-child visit, encouraging families to read together.
“I’m excited to introduce Reach Out and Read to our patients and families in Perry County,” Mercy pediatrician Dr. Dominic Haertling said. “This program stimulates early literacy for children and builds skills that will last a lifetime. It encourages stronger relationships with their parents through the power of reading."
A national program, Reach Out and Read will come to Mercy Perry through funding from Mercy Health Foundation Perry. The program has already seen success at Mercy Pediatrics in Cape Girardeau. A similar program at Mercy Pediatrics in Perryville with Dr. Bhargav Kanani has also had proven success.
“As a former educator, I witnessed firsthand the importance of parent involvement in a child’s education,” said Glenda Gremaud, manager of outreach relations at Mercy Perry. “The Reach Out and Read program encourages and enhances the bond between parents and children during the most crucial times in a child’s development.”
To learn more about the program, talk with your child’s Mercy primary care provider. Mercy Health Foundation Perry is seeking donors for books or funds for the new Reach Out and Read Fund. To donate, visit mercyhealthfoundation.net/communities/perry, click Donate Now and select “Children’s Health Care” under the first question on the form.
