SHELTON -- Since 2003, Mason Health has participated in the Reach Out and Read program at Mason Clinic-Pediatrics. At each well-child checkup for children from infancy through age 5, Mason Clinic pediatricians offer advice to caregivers about early relationships and literacy and give children a new book to take home to build their home libraries.

In 2024, Mason Clinic provided books to 1,113 families at well-child visits and served 1,328 families through additional resources. This partnership is in alignment with Mason Health’s Vision to Provide the Best Patient-Centered Care in the Pacific Northwest, by empowering parents with the tools to help children be successful. Since 2003, Mason Clinic-Pediatrics has provided 39,524 books to families.

“Mason Clinic is proud to work in partnership with Reach out and Read to ensure that children and families receive the best support possible,” said Clinic Manager Christine Dawson. “We achieve this through continual assessment of program quality metrics like provider training, availability of high quality and developmentally appropriate children’s books, providing additional community resources to families, and ensuring that all levels of our clinical staff and health system are aware of and supportive of Reach Out and Read.”

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based program proven to show results for children and families and improve the quality of health care. More than 20 studies demonstrate impact, scale, reach, and effectiveness. Findings show that when families receive Reach Out and Read, parents are two and a half times more likely to read to their children, and children’s language development is improved by three to six months.

Research also links Reach Out and Read to improvements in children’s social-emotional development and decreases in parental stress. Clinicians have improved relationships with families and improved clinic culture and commitment to local communities. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends ROR as an essential component of pediatric care and a strategy to buffer toxic stress.

Community members may donate to Mason Clinic’s Reach Out and Read program by entering in “Site ID 1664 Mason Clinic Pediatrics” in the comments box to ensure your gift supports the families Mason Health serves.

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of one Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award, three Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards and the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/about/sustainability-environmental-stewardship. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masongeneral.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.