Reach Out and Read Michigan uses Priority Health Total Health Foundation grant to provide books, program support to Wayne County pediatric clinics
More than 10,000 Detroit-area children will receive literacy materials
(DETROIT, Mich. – November 6, 2023) The Priority Health Total Health Foundation awarded a $150,000 grant to Reach Out and Read Michigan, a program of its parent organization, Ready for School, a nonprofit that champions kindergarten readiness.
The grant money has provided high-quality program support, educational literacy materials, and 20,285 developmentally appropriate and diverse books to 13 pediatric clinics in Wayne County. More than 10,000 children and their families will benefit.
Distribution of a portion of the books and literacy materials will take place Thursday, November 9 from 9:30-11 a.m. at Wayne Pediatrics, 400 Mack Ave. Suite 1E in Detroit.
Reach Out and Read is the only national pediatric reading model endorsed by The American Academy of Pediatrics and has been effective in promoting parental involvement, increasing reading at home and improving children’s language scores.
“The Priority Health Total Health Foundation is proud to support an organization dedicated to developing a strong foundation for reading and learning in our community,” said Shannon Wilson, vice president of population health and health equity at Priority Health. “The values of Reach Out and Read align with our commitment to improving the well-being of residents in Southeast Michigan.”
Reach Out and Read advocates for parents and guardians to read daily with their children to promote healthy brain and language development, as well as quality time as a family. The organization collaborates with pediatric providers to educate families from a variety of backgrounds and financial means about the importance and benefits of reading together.
“We are grateful to the Priority Health Total Health Foundation and their commitment to finding solutions to the health disparities and social determinants of health impacting children and their families living in Michigan,” said Angie DeLost, affiliate leader for Reach Out and Read Michigan and President & CEO of Ready for School.
In collaboration, we are providing access to early literacy education, resources and books to more than10,000 children from infancy through 5 years of age living in the Detroit area. This funding allows for the Reach Out and Read Michigan program to be implemented at the highest level of quality, promoting healthy childhood development and early relational health.”
Learn more about the Priority Health Total Health Foundation and Reach Out and Read.
About Priority Health:
With over 30 years in business, Priority Health is the second largest health plan in Michigan, offering an extensive portfolio of health benefits options for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Serving more than 1.3 million members each year and offering a broad network of primary care physicians in Michigan, Priority Health continues to be recognized as a leader for quality, customer service, transparency and product innovation. Learn more about affordable, quality health coverage options from Priority Health.
About Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read is 501(c)3 nonprofit that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. As the only evidence-based national pediatric model focused on emotional connections endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read serves children in all 50 of the United States through 6,000 clinics and 33,000 clinicians. Learn more about Reach out and Read.
About Wayne Pediatrics
Wayne Pediatrics is the academic clinical practice that is home to Wayne State University Department of Pediatrics faculty physicians. Wayne Pediatrics offers academic pediatricians committed to serving the children of Detroit while integrating the teaching of future physicians, research, patient care and community engagement. Learn more about Wayne Pediatrics.