HealthLinc has received funding from 1st Source Foundation for its Reach Out & Read program. Reach Out & Read is a national non-profit that leverages the relationships between medical providers, their patients, families and caregivers to promote early literacy.

HealthLinc has participated in the Reach Out & Read program since 2002. At the end of their well-child checkup, children six months to five years old receive a free book. During these checkups, providers initiate literary-driven conversations, which have been proven to significantly impact the likelihood of reading at home.

“We have enjoyed many beautiful experiences with our patients and the Reach Out & Read program,” states Dr. Betsy Sutherland, family medicine physician at HealthLinc Centennial. “Once, I gave a book to a nine-month-old in her dad’s arms. Her brother borrowed it from her, and she reached for it until he gave it back. She was excited to “read” her own book.”

Reach Out & Read is the only national pediatric literacy model endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It serves 4.4 million children and families in every state.

“1st Source Foundation is proud to support HealthLinc’s Reach Out & Read program with this grant,” said Matt Vessely, West Region President at 1st Source Bank. “We are excited to see how this initiative develops as it grows and appreciate HealthLinc’s commitment to addressing literacy gaps while providing exceptional care to those in our community.”

HealthLinc has distributed over 9,000 books to pediatric patients since 2002 and 1,711 in the first six months of 2024. “Reading is a powerful tool that expands knowledge, fuels imagination and fosters growth,” says Melissa Mitchell, HealthLinc CEO. “We are grateful to the 1st Source Foundation for supporting this program.”

For more information on the HealthLinc Reach Out & Read Program, email mgrimm@healthlincchc.org.