NY State Assemblyman Dean Murray Reads to Young New Yorkers in Support of "Reach Out & Read"

Freshman New York State Assemblyman Dean Murray (R,C-3rd District) joined doctors at the Stony Brook Primary Care facility in Patchogue to urge families to read together. He is among over 25 elected officials, including US Congressional Representatives, NYS Assembly Members and Senators who are reading to children this month in support of Reach Out and Read of Greater New York.



"Reading to our children is an important part of their healthy development. Reach Out and Read plays a vital role in promoting reading to our children and its benefit to their well being and growth," said freshman Assemblyman Dean Murray.


Reading aloud to young children is one of the best ways to prepare them for school. Yet in New York State 35% of children enter Kindergarten without the basic language skills they need to start school ready to learn. Doctors at health centers with Reach Out and Read give free age-appropriate books to children 6 months through 5 years old during check-ups, and give parents advice about language development and reading aloud to their kids.


"The Reach Out and Read program has been instrumental in encouraging our Pediatric population to start their children's education before they enter school. Being able to read to our patients and then giving their parents age appropriate books encourages them to develop a love of books at an early age," said Dr. Jose Concepcion, Medical Director, Family Health Sites and ROR Medical Consultant.


John Gupta, CEO of St. John's Episcopal Hospital Pediatrics Clinic agreed: "Reading to children is vital to their education and learning. The Reach Out and Read program provides an excellent stimulus for our young patients."


Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based, national nonprofit organization that prepares America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Reach Out and Read currently serves one-third of the most impoverished children in the U.S. The Reach Out and Read model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the program has one of the strongest records of research support of any primary care intervention. This year, Reach Out and Read's 26,500 volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners will provide 6.2 million new books to 3.9 million children at 4,535 healthcare locations in all 50 states. For further information, please visit Reach Out and Read's website at www.reachoutandread.org .