This story is part of a series on 1st Source Foundation’s grant program. Learn more about the program and the impact it has on communities across Northern Indiana here.
Early childhood literacy helps connect children with a world beyond their home, exposing them to new experiences they can carry forward in their everyday lives. Helping children discover a love of reading early can set up a life of learning and success, which is why HealthLinc has participated in the Reach Out & Read program for the past two decades.
“The Reach Out and Read program is a program designed to improve literacy in families and young people. It makes sure that we have books for all of our patients from 6 months to 5 years old,” HealthLinc CEO Melissa Mitchell said. “Reach Out & Read also gives us the opportunity to talk with families about the importance of early childhood literacy.”
HealthLinc has been able to provide over 9,000 books to pediatric patients since the healthcare center began participating in Reach Out & Read. Books can cover a diverse range of topics and come in a variety of languages and reading levels.
“We like to give the books out in the patient’s language, and we have a lot of diverse titles,” Mitchell said. “When you start promoting literacy from a young age, it gives children a boost in their reading ability and in their love of reading.”
As the program grows in popularity and costs continue to rise in many markets, however, supporting such a robust literacy program requires support from organizations like 1st Source Foundation, which awarded HealthLinc a $10,000 grant to continue supporting the Reach Out & Read program.
1st Source Foundation’s reputation as a supporter of impactful community initiatives inspired HealthLinc to apply for the grant.
“This year, we're planning to give out over 3,000 books, and we would not have been able to do that without this grant,” Mitchell said. “1st Source has been a good partner to our community, and we thought that this would be a great opportunity to work with them to improve and promote this program.”
“1st Source Foundation is proud to support HealthLinc’s Reach Out & Read program with this grant,” said Matt Vessely, West Region President at 1st Source Bank. “Early childhood literacy is of vital importance, not only to the families that HealthLinc is serving, but also to the greater community as a whole.”
In addition to promoting childhood reading, the Reach Out & Read program has proven very effective at developing a positive patient-provider relationship. It turns doctor’s visits from an uncomfortable but necessary health trip into a fun opportunity.
“Not only does it give us an opportunity to encourage literacy, but it promotes coming in and taking care of ourselves early. When a child comes in for a wellness visit, it's not always their favorite thing. Sometimes you get shots, and some kids are afraid of the doctor,” Mitchell said. “When they start coming in and getting books though, they recognize that as a reward they're going to get when they come to the doctor. It makes the doctor’s office a little less scary.”
HealthLinc is incredibly grateful for the support it has received from its community partners and local organizations like 1st Source Foundation who are invested in bettering public health.
“We would never be able to do all of the things that we do or work in the communities that we work in if it wasn't for the support and collaboration of our local partners. Their contributions to us can make a difference in whether or not we can maintain our community programming,” Mitchell said. “We're very appreciative of the grant that was given to us by 1st Source Foundation so that we can promote the Reach Out & Read program. The support that they give us allows us to continue to grow and build both literacy as well as relationships.”
HealthLinc is a community health center dedicated to providing patients comprehensive care at an affordable price. To learn more about its services or to schedule an appointment, visit healthlincchc.org.1st Source Foundation helps fund local projects making a significant impact on their community. Those interested in applying for a grant should visit 1st Source Foundation’s page to learn about eligibility, application requirements, and more.
