Garden State Times

Assemblywoman Aura Dunn recently visited a local pediatrician, Dr. Rosario Zambrano, to learn about the Reach Out and Read program, which promotes strong family bonds and healthy child brain development. The program, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, encourages parents and caregivers to read to children during routine checkups for ages birth to 5, especially for those on Medicaid or uninsured.

Dunn expressed her support for the program, stating, “Research consistently shows that children who are read to by a loving caregiver have better language skills and are healthier emotionally. I’m proud to support the work of Reach Out and Read and pediatricians like Dr. Zambrano who advocate for daily reading to build those strong bonds and set up children for future success.”

The Reach Out and Read program, originating in 1989 at Boston City Hospital, has grown to over 6,200 program sites and 36,000 clinicians nationwide. Assemblywoman Dunn highlighted the crucial role of pediatricians in children's brain development, emphasizing the importance of early reading habits. She stated, “Pediatricians have that unmatched access to families during those critical years in children’s brain development, from birth to age three. As a passionate advocate for children, women, and families, and as a mother who remembers the joy of reading to my own children, I can’t praise this program enough.”