HR319: HR319 Reach Out and Read Day at the state capitol; February 19, 2025; recognize the power of reading to young children every day; recognize

25 LC 112 3018 House Resolution 319 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Dubnik of the 29th, Rice of the 139th, Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 19, 2025, as Reach Out and Read Day at the state capitol to recognize1 the power of reading to young children every day; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read's early literacy intervention began in 1989 at Boston3 Medical Center and has expanded to 50 states, serving 5.7 million families today. Georgia's4 affiliate office launched in 2012 and now serves 194,258 children and families in 81 counties5 at 208 hospitals, pediatric practices, clinics, and home visiti ng program sites with 1086 medical sites that have applications in progress to become Reach Out and Read sites; and7 WHEREAS, over 1,000 medical providers and staff have been trained in the evidence based8 early literacy intervention program of Reach Out and Read Georgia, offering each child an9 opportunity to be read to and to learn to read; and10 WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read has trained 36,000 pediatricians an d medical providers11 who prescribe reading as a daily activity during wellness checkups; and12 WHEREAS, over the past 12 months, 388,516 well child checkups (engaging approximately13 194,258 children and families) were conducted across Georgia wi th pediatricians and14 providers implementing the Reach Out and Read program; and15 H. R. 319 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3018 WHEREAS, in that same time, 289,422 new children's books were distributed through the16 program's pediatric network to children aged five years old and younger; and17 WHEREAS, since the program's inception, over 2.7 million new children's books have been18 given to young children in Georgia by pediatric providers beginning at the very first newborn19 visit through a child's fifth birthday, and children in the pro gram demonstrate a six-month20 developmental edge compared to children not enrolled in the pro gram when arriving at21 kindergarten; and22 WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read is the only early literacy interven tion endorsed by the23 American Academy of Pediatrics and has the most extensive body of research supporting the24 efficacy of the program model with 26 studies supporting its work; and25 WHEREAS, pediatricians prescribe reading as a daily activity an d parents take these26 prescriptions to heart, increasing social and emotional bonds w ith their children while27 increasing their exposure to positive interactions and creating special, meaningful moments;28 and29 WHEREAS, positive emotional bonding between a parent and child has been demonstrated30 to help mitigate the damaging effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES); and31 WHEREAS, pediatric offices implementing Reach Out and Read have cited an increase in32 wellness visit compliance during the earliest years of life, a time when most immunizations33 occur; and34 H. R. 319 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3018 WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read has the ability to serve as the intersection of education and35 healthcare, offering unprecedented access to the pediatric community, children, and families;36 and37 WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read Georgia will provide quality, diverse, and developmentally38 and linguistically appropriate books in 30 languages to medical sites across Georgia; and39 WHEREAS, 1,500 medical providers and staff implement the Reach Out and Read Georgia40 program every day across the state, offering each child an opportunity to be read to and to41 learn to read; and42 WHEREAS, medical providers prescribe reading at every wellness visit beginning at birth43 through age five.44 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that45 the members of this body commend the efforts of Reach Out and R ead to give young46 children a foundation for success by incorporating books into t he existing pediatric care47 infrastructure, encourage families in Georgia to read aloud together each and every day, and48 recognize February 19, 2025, as Reach Out and Read Day at the state capitol.49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized50 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Reach51 Out and Read Georgia.52 H. R. 319 - 3 -