|
|||||
|
||
Born To Read Kicks Off
Major New Initiative To Get Young Children Reading
Collaboration Among MUSC, Charleston County Public
Library,
Friends of the Library & Trident United Way
United Way and three important partners have unveiled a major new program focused on the critical issue of early literacy.
Born To Read was developed inresponse 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.
In phase one of Born To Read, MUSC will send every new mother home with a book bag filled with books, information and resources to help their babies’ healthy development. Volunteers from the library will talk to mothers about the importance of reading to children – even infants and babies – and demonstrate how best to do it.
If successful, Born To Read will be expanded to all area hospitals and with the goal of reaching every new mother in the Lowcountry.
Born To Read is an especially critical need in the Lowcountry, where:
• 40% of high school students drop out,
• 44% of 25-39 year-olds are insufficiently literate for most entry level jobs,
• 40% 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 has identified Born To Read as one of three kinds of services that every city should support for healthy and successful children.
Born To Read is a partnership of the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston County Public Library, Friends of the Charleston County Library and Trident United Way’s Success By 6. It is largely funded by a grant to Success By 6 from a private foundation.
|
|
| |