About Reach Out and Read Florida

Reach Out and Read Florida (ROR Florida) was established in 2002 and is a coalition of more than 200 sites serving over 180,000 children per year. The target audience is all pediatric, family practice and community medical clinics with a special focus on those that serve low-income families. More than 1,000 physicians have been trained. The mission of ROR Florida is to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care so that children grow up with books and a love of reading.

Click here to view the ROR Florida 2007 Annual Report.

_ROR Florida Strategies:
Expand awareness of the ROR model in the medical and non-medical communities.
Facilitate fundraising for individual ROR programs and regional coalitions.
Ensure that training for medical providers is available throughout Florida.
Provide technical assistance to individual ROR programs and regional coalitions.
Assist with quality assurance for local programs.

The Reach Out and Read Model:
1. The physician gives a free, developmentally appropriate and culturally appropriate children's book to each child at each of 10 regular check-ups between six months and five years.
2. The physician advises the child's caregiver (parent, guardian, etc.) about the benefits of reading aloud daily with the child.
3. Volunteers model reading aloud in the waiting room.

Coalition Announcements

Book Sponsors
ROR Florida's goal is to provide a new, developmentally appropriate book to all of Florida's low-income children under age five at each of their medical check-ups. To make a financial contribution toward this end or to sponsor one of our existing book titles, please contact Susan F. Sims at rorflorida@yahoo.com or 561.445.6312

Book Donations
Donations of new or gently used children's books are always appreciated. To make a donation of books or to organize a book drive, please contact Susan F. Sims at rorflorida@yahoo.com or 561.445.6312

Volunteers Needed

Volunteer readers are welcome to share the pleasures of books and reading aloud with children in ROR Florida site waiting rooms. If interested in this opportunity, please contact Susan F. Sims at rorflorida@yahoo.com or 561.445.6312

Looking for Great Literacy Partners

Reach Out and Read Florida is always eager to identify and partner with organizations and corporations that would like to support the Reach Out and Read program in pediatric care sites throughout Florida. If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity, contact Susan F. Sims at rorflorida@yahoo.com or 561.445.6312

Advisory Board Members

ROR FLORIDA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CHAIR: Lee Sanders, MD, MPH
University of Miami

VICE CHAIR: Darlene Kostrub
Palm Beach Literacy Coalition

SECRETARY: Sharon Dabrow,MD
University of South Florida

TREASURER: Lloyd N. Werk, MD, MPH, FAAP
Nemours Children's Clinic - Orlando

MEMBERS AT LARGE:

Sonya Dominguez, MD, St. Vincent's Hospital- Jacksonville

Liaisons:

Carol Scoggins, Florida Department of Health

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