Overview

Raising Readers in Wyoming works to improve child health, increase the number of times a parent reads to their children, and support families as they prepare their children to enter kindergarten. Raising Readers in Wyoming is based on a successful initiative in Maine designed to deliver books and basic skills in developing reading readiness to parents of children from birth to five years. The program supports Wyoming’s vision that “all children will have opportunities for developmental success.”

How the program works

Raising Readers in Wyoming distributes 10 books to children by the time they reach five years old in conjunction with well-baby check-ups. The dual goal is to improve reading readiness and provide incentives to increase immunizations.

In its third year, Raising Readers in Wyoming was launched through Wyoming Early Childhood Development Council and the Wyoming Department of Family Services. Wyoming Child Development Services administers the program.

PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning and partner support has:

• Introduced the program in 16 counties
• Reached more than 2,600 children
• Paid for program administration, books, training and evaluation
  

PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning initiative

Raising Readers is one of five literacy initiatives supported by the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning. The programs received $1 million over three years to improve early childhood literacy rates in communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power.

Partners

PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning
Wyoming Pediatrics Association
Governor's Early Childhood Development Council
Visiting Nurses Association
Child Development Services of Wyoming
AmeriCorps/VISTA
Wyoming Department of Family Services
McMurry Foundation
Scott Foundation

“Reading to infants and your children is very important. A baby’s brain needs the stimulation of being read to and spoken to in order to develop an understanding of language.”

Jolene Olson,
Program Director