Nassau University Medical Center recently launched its new Reach Out and Read Program, Nassau County Executive Mangano announced this week.
The department of pediatrics at NUMC initiated the children’s literacy program where doctors not only counsel parents on early learning and reading aloud with their children, but hand out books to children 6 months to 5 years of age during regular office visits.
“Multiple studies have shown that children of families with access to Reach Out and Read programs enter kindergarten with substantially larger vocabularies and stronger language skills,”said Dr. Victor Politi, president/CEO of NuHealth. “This strong foundation has proven critical to future success not only in literacy but consequently in health and economic sufficiency throughout adulthood,”
Mangano thanked the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, as well as First Book Long Island, and Dr. and Mrs. Frank Saracino for their generosity in providing the funds needed to launch this program.
Steve Haller, president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, sees this as an important and effective way to invest in the community.
NUMC (also known as NuHealth) is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
