Helping Young Minds Grow: How Reach Out and Read Supports Early Childhood Development at Mosaic

At Mosaic Community Health, care goes beyond checkups and prescriptions. It’s about supporting the whole child—and that includes nurturing early learning, language and connection.

That’s where the Reach Out and Read program comes in.

What is Reach Out and Read?

Reach Out and Read is a nationally recognized program that partners with healthcare providers to promote early literacy. During well-child visits, providers give young children a book to take home and offer guidance to parents on the importance of reading together.

The idea is simple, but powerful: by integrating books into pediatric care, families are encouraged to build routines around reading—supporting brain development, language skills and emotional bonding from the very start.

Reach Out and Read is one of the most studied early literacy interventions in the country, with decades of research showing meaningful benefits for children and families.
Studies have found that:

• Parents read more often with their children. Families participating in the program are more likely to read together regularly and make reading part of their daily routine.
• Children show stronger language development. Kids exposed to Reach Out and Read demonstrate improved vocabulary and language skills—especially important in the early years when the brain is developing rapidly.
• Families build stronger connections. Reading together supports bonding, emotional development and secure attachment between caregivers and children.
• Providers can influence early learning. When trusted healthcare providers talk about reading, families are more likely to see it as an essential part of their child’s health and development.

Reach Out and Read reports that children in the program score higher on language development assessments compared to those who do not participate, helping set the foundation for school readiness and long-term academic success.

How the Program Works at Mosaic

At Mosaic, the program is built into routine pediatric care. Medical assistants, providers and staff work together to ensure that books are distributed during well-child visits. From January 2025 to January 2026, Mosaic gave out 1,547 books as part of Reach Out and Read. Since the partnership began in 2014, Mosaic’s Reach Out and Read program has given a total of 18,642 books. 

While Reach Out and Read provides the framework and training, the books given to children at Mosaic are funded locally through grants and community support.

These grants—often from foundations, community partners and charitable funding sources—make it possible for Mosaic to provide books at no cost to families. This support ensures that every child, regardless of background or financial situation, can begin building a home library from an early age.

Starting From the Very Beginning

Historically, children received books starting at six months old through age five. But Reach Out and Read recently expanded the program to reach families even earlier.

“We’re now integrating books at newborn, two-week, two-month, and four-month well checks,” says Emma Landon, medical assistant and Reach Out and Read coordinator at Mosaic.

These early books look a little different than traditional storybooks. Families might receive:

• High-contrast books for visual development
• Tummy-time books
• Bath books
• Simple shape and sensory books

These are designed specifically for early developmental stages—helping babies engage with the world around them before they can even speak.

More Than Just a Book

Providers receive specialized training through the Reach Out and Read program to help them incorporate books into visits in a meaningful way. The training focuses on the research behind early reading and how it can be beneficial for families.

“It introduces techniques for how to bring books into appointments and helps providers understand why it matters,” says Emma.

This means the book isn’t just handed off—it becomes part of the conversation. Providers might model how to read with a baby, talk about developmental milestones or encourage parents to build reading into their daily routine.

Supporting Families in Our Community

For many families, especially those facing barriers like transportation, language access or limited resources, receiving a book at a healthcare visit can make a real difference.

At Mosaic, most books are bilingual in English and Spanish, helping more families engage in reading at home.

And the response from families has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The books are super cute,” says Emma. “Parents just adore those kinds of things to spend time with their kids.”

A Small Moment With a Lasting Impact

A book may seem like a small gift, but it creates something much bigger—a moment of connection between parent and child, a foundation for learning and a step toward lifelong literacy.

Through Reach Out and Read, Mosaic is helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive—starting from their very first days.

Learn more about the Reach Out and Read Program at reachoutandread.org or talk to your child’s pediatrician at Mosaic.