The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60700

Beth L. Ladd, MS, CCC-SLP¹, Luwana D. Ralph, MS, CCC-SLP¹, Luz Belleza-Binns, Outreach Manager¹, Rachael Durham, MA, CCC-A¹, and Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge, MD, MPH². (1) Children's Special Services, Metro-Nashville Public Health Department, 311 23rd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203, (2) Division of Child and Adolescent Health, Metro Nashville Public Health Department, 311 23rd Ave North, Nashville, TN 37203, 615-340-5614, kimberlee.wyche@nashville.gov

Turn the Page Together is a pilot community outreach project that focuses on promoting literacy development in young children. The program has been developed by the staff of the Speech and Hearing Clinic at the Metro-Nashville Public Health Department with support from a variety of community resources such as literacy agencies, public television, local businesses, and private donations. The goal of Turn the Page Together is to place a book in the hands of every child that visits the clinic and to encourage caregivers to spend time reading to their children. The program plans to give out an estimated 300 books each year. Children ages six months to six years who are scheduled for a speech evaluation and/or hearing evaluation receive an age appropriate book and their caregiver receives a “grab bag” containing information on reading and language development. Books and training materials are available in both English and Spanish. Families are contacted by phone one month after the clinic visit to complete a follow-up survey used to gauge the effectiveness of the program. Initial responses to the survey indicate that approximately 87% of caregivers reported that the training information provided was helpful and approximately 63% of caregivers reported that their child was showing an increased interest in books.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Develop guidelines for a literacy program targeting children at the toddler, preschool, and early-elementary school level.
  3. Identify potential community partnerships needed to obtain program resources.

Keywords: Literacy, Children

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.