Early Literacy Initiatives will promote parent engagement and parenting practices in Wake County by providing activities, education, and resource materials through two literacy programs: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read (see below). These initiatives will create community awareness of the importance of early literacy through well-child pediatric visits, as well as increase young children’s access to books. Activity staff will work with local medical providers, childcare centers, public libraries, elementary schools, and agencies/groups that serve young children and families in Wake County. In addition, Early Literacy Initiatives will provide outreach through social media and community events.
Reach Out and Read Carolinas partners with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Doctors and nurses are trained to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud together and to give new books to children at pediatric well child visits (check-ups). By making reading aloud a daily activity, Reach Out and Read helps ensure that every child has the healthy foundation they need—cognitively, socially, and emotionally.
Related Programs
Wake ThreeSchool
Wake ThreeSchool is play-based preparation for Wake County’s three-year-olds before entering Pre-K.
MOREBuilding Family Support
MOREREACH
Children in Wake County, ages birth to five, who are experiencing homelessness will receive assessment, assistance, and support services through REACH (Resilience, Empowerment, Access for Children Experiencing Homelessness), a program of Passage Home.
MOREProgram for Early Parent Support
Participants in both Spanish- and English-speaking communities are provided with emotional support, an inclusive and safe community, and empowerment to grow as they experience challenges with others who understand their perspective. These programs are completely free of cost and provide participants with crucial resources including diapers, grocery gift cards and books (in participants’ home language). TAPS is currently offering these programs to families in Wake County with babies up to 18 months of age.
MOREImproving Early Childhood Education Access for Latinx Families
Child Care Referral Central (CCRC), a service of Child Care Services Association (CCSA), provides “one-stop shopping” for Wake County Latinx families, who have children birth to 5, with identifying, selecting, and accessing high quality early care and education opportunities. CCRC Specialists provide FREE services, which include counseling on child care options, referrals to programs, assistance checking vacancies, accompanied site-visits, support navigating financial assistance, and Spanish interpretation and translation assistance.
MOREDolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a free high quality, age-appropriate book to children in Wake County every month from birth to age 5 to encourage a love of reading and readiness for kindergarten.
MORENC Pre-Kindergarten
NC Pre-K provides children with a high-quality classroom program to help four-year olds get ready for Kindergarten. Children attend Pre-K for 6.5 hours each day, Monday through Friday.
MORESchool Readiness Services for Hispanic Children
School Readiness Services for Hispanic Children & Families serves Hispanic families with young children in Wake County. It is a multifaceted program that builds early literacy skills, and provides screenings, information and referrals.
MOREWake Connections
Wake Connections is a coordinated intake and referral system that connects families with high quality home-based programs.
MORECrianza con Cariño
This 15-week family education program blends child-rearing information with social supports to strengthen Spanish-speaking families living in Wake County.
MORESecurePath
SecurePath is a comprehensive mental health service for young children in Wake County that is provided at the child’s home or preschool.
MOREParents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers (PAT) services are offered to children from birth to age 5 who need help preparing for success in school.
MORENurse-Family Partnership
Nurse-Family Partnership is a free, voluntary program that partners first-time moms with nurse home visitors.
MOREHome Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
HIPPY is a FREE 3-year, home-based, early childhood education program that supports parents while providing solutions that strengthen families.
MOREChild Care Subsidy Program
The Wake County Child Care Subsidy Program provides financial assistance to parents for their child care needs for families based on an assessment of need, income and family size.
MORE