Expansion With now more than 3,797 sites across the country, Reach Out and Read continues to work towards its mission of making literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric care. In the first quarter of 2008, two new statewide coalitions - Reach Out and Read Arkansas and Reach Out and Read Kentucky - were founded to support ROR sites. In addition to providing sites in their coalitions with book funding, ROR AR and ROR KY will provide outreach to the medical and literacy communities, implement medical provider training, monitor quality assurance of ROR sites, and offer technical assistance so that ROR can be a vibrant and effective program throughout their states. In Arkansas, an organization formerly known as AR Well Child Reads became ROR Arkansas. At the start of the year, there were 12 ROR sites in the state, and their goal is to increase the number of doctors and nurses who participate in ROR, and the number children and families who benefit from the books and guidance that ROR provides, by nearly 65%. The new coalition is also focusing on getting the word out about ROR by hosting Book Bashes and fun runs, and attending conferences and seminars. ROR Kentucky was founded with the help of KIDS Now (Kentucky Investing in Developing Success), a statewide early childhood education initiative. Funding from this initiative is supporting books for new ROR sites in Kentucky and training for all ROR medical providers. Just in the past few months, the coalition has started nearly 20 ROR sites, many of which are affiliated with the Health Department. There are now 32 statewide and regional coalitions in the United States.   Return