Recognizing that early literacy is critical to a child’s future success, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) has signed on to co-sponsor the “Prescribe a Book Act.”

The Prescribe a Book Act (H.R. 820) – known as PABA -- authorizes a competitive grant program to support a pediatric early literacy initiative that trains doctors and nurses to encourage parents to read aloud to their children.  The grant supports programs that: serve children considered at high risk of underperforming academically; are proven effective by sound research; and have a demonstrated track record of proven intervention.

Reach Out and Read, which promotes school readiness and early literacy in California and across the nation, meets all of those criteria.

“I am proud to sign on as a co-sponsor of PABA,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said.   “The best way to protect America’s economic security for the future is to invest in early education.  It is crucial that we fund programs that are proven to prepare our nation’s children for success in school and in life.”

In California, Reach Out and Read serves more than 585,000 children annually through 629 hospitals and health centers.  More than one million new, developmentally-appropriate books are given to young children annually throughout the state. 

In Los Angeles County alone, 126 Reach Out and Read clinical locations serve 108,000 children annually.  In Fiscal Year 2010, more than 171,000 new books were given to young children in Los Angeles County through Reach Out and Read.

The Prescribe a Book Act was introduced by Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The act authorizes $15 million in federal funding for FY 2012 to support school readiness initiatives.

PABA is not new federal funding for a new program. Congress has supported pediatric early literacy for 12 consecutive years by funding Reach Out and Read through the LHHS Appropriations Bill.

The act is supported by a broad national coalition, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the International Reading Association, the National Center for Family Literacy, and the Ounce of Prevention Fund.

“On behalf of the children of California, we are grateful for Representative Roybal-Allard’s support of PABA,” said Dr. Kathleen Swec, M.D., Medical Director of Reach Out and Read Los Angeles. “Research shows that if you intervene in the first five years of life and partner with parents, you can dramatically improve the early literacy skills of a child.”

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based, national nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud at regular pediatric checkups. The model includes providing a carefully-selected, new, age-appropriate book for each child to take home from every checkup from 6 months through 5 years.

Along with the free book for every child, doctors and nurses also provide guidance to the parents about the importance of reading aloud with their children every day.  The research proves that families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills, and a six-month developmental edge. 

Nationwide, Reach Out and Read doctors and nurses serve 3.9 million children and their families annually at 4,654 pediatric practices, hospitals, clinics, and health centers in all 50 states, targeting those centers which serve children at socioeconomic risk. 

For more information on Reach Out and Read, visit, www.reachoutandread.org