October 6, 2006

Senator Barrios visits Chelsea HealthCare Center

It's not every day that one has the undivided attention of a state senator. But that's just what some children from the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center's Reach Out and Read (ROR) program were treated to when Massachusetts State Sen. Jarrett Barrios paid the group a visit Sept. 13. Sen. Barrios read Buenas Noches Luna to the group of children, who intently listened and interacted with the senator.

Now in its ninth year, the ROR program distributes more than 5,000 free, new books to pediatric patients between the ages of six months to five years at each annual well-child visit. "The books are age-appropriate and in several languages," says Margo Johnson, coordinator of the ROR program. "We were very pleased to have Senator Barrios visit our Reach Out and Read program. The children truly enjoyed listening to him read."

Sen. Barrios played a key role in rallying support for the state's funding of the ROR program. During his visit, Kathy Healey, PNP, of the Chelsea HealthCare Center, described how giving the child a new book at the start of an appointment allows the health care provider to evaluate his or her speech as well as cognitive, fine motor and social development. At the same time, parents receive the message that reading to their children helps them to learn.

For more information about the ROR program, visit www.reachoutandread.org.