Programs
Reading with a preschool child is the single most important activity to prepare a child for school success!
ELP provides children, birth to age five, a new, diverse, and developmentally- and age-appropriate book at each well-child visit with their pediatrician. The medical staff offers guidance and tips to parents, and “prescribes” reading on a daily basis. ROR is provided to all children, but the pediatric practice must serve a large percentage of Medicaid patients who are low to moderate income; 58 percent of all clients are Medicaid recipients in this program. Two sites are Federally Qualified Health Centers and numerous children are represented in low- income Census tract areas, such as 604.01, 616.02, and 612.02 across York County.
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BOOKS FOR BABY BUMPS
Start building your baby’s brain before he or she is born by reading to your baby bump! Reading to your little one while still in the womb begins creating a bond between mother and child, while also increasing word exposure and brain connections. After 25 weeks, an infant in utero begins to hear muffled sounds and can hear your voice as you read to them. Through OBGYN practices in York County, ELP provides a book and information to expecting mothers to encourage bonding through reading while increasing the baby’s word exposure and brain building.
Related Articles:
https://www.oliikiapp.com/blog/can-reading-aloud-to-your-baby-bump-help-their-development
https://cpl.org/born-to-read-reading-to-your-baby-in-the-womb
ELP recognizes the lack of choice and access to books for some children. Working with community partners, ELP provides books in non-traditional sites such as laundromats, barbershops, Little Free Libraries, and summer feeding programs, to name a few. Distribution of these books take place in communities of need with 50 percent or greater of low to moderate incomes.
Related Articles:
When newborn babies require treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Piedmont Medical Center, their parents are often overwhelmed and find it hard to interact with them. ELP provides a blanket and book with reading tips, encouraging parents to cuddle and read to their baby, promoting skin-to-skin bonding.
Related Articles:
https://www.best-books-for-kids.com/premature-babies.html
https://www.mother.ly/parenting/how-reading-to-nicu-baby-can-help-moms-too/
https://babyfirst.com/en/blog-posts-jenne-johns/the-importance-of-reading-to-your-preemie
OUR IMPACT
Approximate numbers served in 2024-25:
Books distributed in York County
25,723 BOOKS
Prenatal Program
300 MOMS
Reach Out and Read
21,869 CHILDREN
Community Book Giveaways
3,544 BOOKS