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If you happened to be in Orange County, California last October 8th you might have heard about hungry caterpillars – especially if you encountered a toddler. But worry not. Orange County's butterfly population was, and is, healthy and well fed. So what gives? Why were tens of thousands of kids talking about caterpillars eating ice cream and cake? It was all part of a unique partnership between Reach Out and Read – an Early Literacy Program supported by Proposition 10 funds from the Children and Families Commission of Orange County (CFCOC) – and Jumpstart's "Read for the Record" campaign, which arranged for volunteers to read Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a record-setting two million children around the world, all on the same day. More than 25,000 were in Orange County, and at the center of it all was Orange County native Gustavo Ortega, an Early Literacy Reading Supervisor with the Reach Out and Read Program. No one who knows him would be surprised that he would be right in the middle of a huge program to help the kids in his community. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 2006, Ortega enrolled in College to pursue a degree in business. To pay for his education, Ortega started looking for a job. His wife, who worked in a local pediatrician's office, told him about Reach Out and Read, a program which "promotes early literacy school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud." That was all he needed to hear. "I just had a feeling it would be a good fit," he recalls. He was interviewed and hired as a reader, one of a small group who would go to pediatricians' offices throughout the County to read to kids in the waiting room. A short time later, he was promoted to supervisor. In that role, he trains and manages other readers, teaching them best techniques for reading to children and for involving parents. He also makes certain that Reach Out and Read sites have books and other resources and serves as the point person between Reach Out and Read and Orange County's Early Literacy Program. It's a big job, but it suits Ortega to a tee. "I have a passion for helping people," he explained. "It's something I've always done and is part of who I am." He's been giving back to his community since he was a teenager in middle school, where he tutored younger students. "What we hope to do is to get the kids to like and look forward to reading, so that it becomes a regular part of their lives. A life-long love of reading means life-long learning. Wouldn't it be great if instead of coming home from school and reaching for a video game, our kids came home and reached for a book?" In addition to providing volunteers and paid staff to read aloud to kids who are waiting to see their doctors, the program works directly with pediatricians, nurses and parents to promote early literacy and school readiness by arranging for doctors to give every child age 6 months to 5 years a new, age-appropriate book at each checkup. Many kids end up with their own "library" of 10 or more books by the time they are in kindergarten. The California Chapter 4, American Academy of Pediatrics is the lead for Orange County, and currently has 42 active programs. The coalition officially began in 2006 and consists of community partners including CHOC Children's Hospital, UCI Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California (Orange County), and private practice pediatricians. A partnership with the California Chapter 4, AAP and the Commission has allowed ROR to grow in a few short years from 6 programs to 42 active programs. California Chapter 4, AAP coordinates program recruitment, implementation, training and technical assistance, while the Commission's Early Literacy Program supports ROR efforts countywide through book supplies and a volunteer reader program. The impact of the program is huge. In Fiscal Year 2008-09, more than 94,000 children were read to in waiting rooms; more than 61,000 new and used books were distributed by health care workers at community events; and almost 45,000 parents and caregivers were given literacy resources such as reading tips and developmental milestones tied to literacy. That's quite impressive considering the fact that in 2008, there were just over 267,000 children ages 0-5 in Orange County. There is little doubt that early literacy can have a huge impact on later school success. The Commission reports that researchers agree that children are more likely to become good readers if they start school having been exposed to a wide variety of literary experiences and have knowledge of books and stories. It's that kind of fact-based evidence that makes Ortega such a strong advocate for the program, and he pulls no punches when it comes to giving credit for its existence. "Reach Out and Read would not be in Orange County without funds from Proposition 10, that is allocated by the Commission. Funding from the Commission for staff and materials enables us to reach thousands of children who would otherwise miss out on this incredibly important and effective program. That would be a shame." Never satisfied with the status quo, Ortega wants even greater community involvement with Reach Out and Read. He speaks passionately about the need for more volunteers to read, more books to be donated and cleaned at book drives, and even more financial support. "It's never enough," he says. "There are always more children who we can turn on to books, and we need to be out there getting to them. When you think about it, there is nothing more important – or more satisfying – than reaching out to kids and giving them a head start on learning." Ortega loves what he does. When asked what he considers his most gratifying experience so far, he does not hesitate. "Before I was a supervisor, I was a reader at a Reach Out and Read site in a pediatrician's office in Huntington Beach. One day, a four year old boy came into the waiting room, and right away I could see that he was a little timid, maybe even scared. I first spoke with his parents and told them about our program. They had never heard about us, but said they did read once in a while to their child, and that he seemed to like it. I sat down next to him and began to read a book about dogs. Right away I could see he was interested. By the time he was called in for his check-up, we had read about four books, all about dogs. His favorite was Clifford the Big Red Dog. He listened intently, never taking his eyes off of the pages. Just as he was about to enter the exam room, he turned around and with a big smile said he ‘expected' me to be there the next time he had to go to the doctor. "I will always remember how the shy, scared look in that little boy's eyes became bright and excited as he connected with the books. When I saw that spark, I knew this program made a difference and put that boy on a path that will enrich him for the rest of his life. To me, that's what Reach Out and Read is all about." |
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