Health Net helps promote literacy

Lori Rieger of Health Net of Arizona provided this News by You article.

Health Net of Arizona, Inc is partnering with the Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development to promote early literacy to children living in Maricopa County.

The partnership means that 1,500 underserved children in south Phoenix will receive a book of their own during their well-child visits at the Mountain Park Health Center, 635 E Baseline Road.

Also, during those visits, parents will be instructed on reading techniques and educated on the benefits of fostering early literacy. Health Net's Adopt-a-Clinic sponsorship will also enable Mountain Park Health Center to receive training and volunteer support.

Lorry Bottrill, regional finance officer, Health Net of Arizona Inc. said Health Net wants to see that young children get off to a healthy start - both physically and in their language ability.

"Well-child visits allow pediatricians to provide preventive care and promote behavior conducive to healthy development. Early literacy skills make a critical difference in children's school readiness," he added.

Southwest Human Development operates the Adopt-a-Clinic program. Research shows that nearly 63 percent of affluent families read to children ages birth-to-5 on a daily basis. However, in families near the poverty line ($21,200 or less for a family of four), only 32 percent of those with young children read with them daily, according to Southwest Human Development.

To qualify for the Reach Out and Read program, each clinic must demonstrate that more than 50 percent of the families they serve are living in poverty.

For more information on the Adopt-a-Clinic program or to learn how to become a sponsor, contact Southwest Human Development at (602) 266-5976 or visit www.swhd.org.