Healthy development starts early
As of last week, MUSC began sending every new mother home with a book
bag filled with books, information and resources to help their baby's
healthy development. Volunteers will talk to mothers about the
importance of reading to children—even infants and babies—and
demonstrate how best to do it.
Kerri Collins, an
MUSC Children’s Hospital volunteer working with the Born to Read
Program, helps introduce Eva Collins to the joy of reading. Eva’s
parents Jennifer and Lee Collins look on.The project—Born To Read—is a joint effort of the Charleston County Library, Friends of the Library, Trident United Way and MUSC, and focuses on the critical issue of early literacy.
Born To Read was developed in response to research showing that human brain development occurs in the very earliest months and years. When children learn to read before beginning school they dramatically reduce their risk of failing, dropping out, and falling into poverty.
If successful, Born To Read will be expanded to all area hospitals with the goal of reaching every new mother in the Lowcountry.
Born To Read is an especially critical need in the Lowcountry, where:
- 40 percent of high school students drop out,
- 44 percent of 25 to 39 year olds are insufficiently literate for most entry level jobs,
- 40 percent of tax returns filed have an adjusted gross income of $20,000 or less.
This $23,000 program is part of a nationwide movement to increase early literacy that began in 1995. The National League of Cities identified Born To Read as one of three kinds of services that every city should support for healthy and successful children. The program is largely funded by a grant to Charleston United Way’s Success By 6 from a private foundation.
Friday, March 10, 2006
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