The Rona Jaffe Foundation has generously donated $500,000 to establish an Endowed Fund for Children’s Literacy that will be named for American novelist Rona Jaffe. This endowment will support literacy initiatives that touch the lives of children, teens, and families receiving care through UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, our Primary Care Centers, and our Family Care Connection Centers (FCCs).
Studies show that early childhood literacy lays the foundation for children’s cognitive growth, emotional well-being, and future academic success. In addition to providing expert medical care, UPMC Children’s prioritizes holistic care that enhances every aspect of a child’s life. Promoting literacy is a critical component of this mission, and we are deeply grateful to The Rona Jaffe Foundation for their support.
Literacy and Child Development
Literacy is a key social determinant of a child’s overall health and well-being. And yet, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 32% of fourth graders are reading proficiently for their age. According to Anne Marie Kuchera, director of Community Health for UPMC Children’s, children who are not reading proficiently for their grade level face significantly poorer health and educational outcomes. With the help of philanthropy, however, UPMC Children’s providers are uniquely positioned to screen for literacy and provide early intervention, setting children on a path to success.
“Without literacy-specific donor support, we would have a huge gap in programming,” Anne Marie said.
“The endowment established by The Rona Jaffe Foundation will enable us to continue promoting early literacy, which helps children reach developmental milestones, achieve success in school, and experience better long-term quality of life.”
Books at the Bedside
One program that will benefit from this newly established endowment is Reach Out and Read, which enables providers at UPMC Children’s Primary Care Centers to screen for and encourage early literacy through child well-visits.
“Early literacy is critical to a child’s speech and overall brain development, and it’s also an amazing tool for parent-child bonding,” said Michael Bertenthal, MD, primary care physician and director of Reach Out and Read.
For children between 6 months and 5 years old, providers start each visit by offering the child a new book — which is theirs to keep, thanks to philanthropy — and observe how they interact with it. “How do they hold it? Do they try to turn the pages? Are they looking at the pictures? This tells us a lot about a child’s development and informs the care we provide,” Dr. Bertenthal explained. “It also adds an element of fun to the visit, making the family more comfortable, and it starts conversations with parents about the benefits of reading together at home.”
In UPMC Children’s inpatient units, ambulatory care areas, and Emergency Department (ED), reading can be a welcome distraction that soothes kids and parents alike. Through our Booksburgh program, UPMC Children’s provides about 3,600 books to inpatient families and about 1,200 books to ED and outpatient families every year.
Book deliveries often coincide with programming kids can enjoy through Dream Big Studio, our hospital’s closed-circuit broadcasting studio, where they and their parents can read along with a story time broadcast. Patient-centered programs like this foster a sense of normalcy and fun, and they exist solely due to philanthropy.
Strengthening Families and Communities
The endowment established by The Rona Jaffe Foundation will additionally support literacy programs in Family Care Connection Centers (FCCs). Located in six Pittsburgh neighborhoods, FCCs work in partnership with families to meet their needs and help their children achieve brighter futures.
Early childhood education and family wellness programs are key among FCC services, with literacy integrated throughout. Kids and families can participate in Kindergarten Readiness, Reading Together (a virtual program where families receive a book in the mail and read along during the Zoom event), and Nursery Rhyme Time (a program combining literacy and crafting, hosted in collaboration with a local nonprofit). FCCs also maintain a library of books for children and parents, and families can select a book of their choice to take home each month.
“Support from partners like The Rona Jaffe Foundation is essential to our ability to work with families holistically,” said FCC Senior Manager Charlotte Byrd. “The kids and families who engage in literacy programs learn to respect and honor books. Kids of all ages, up to their teens, like to be involved in reading together. Literacy programs,” Charlotte said, “strengthen bonds among kids, parents, and communities around a shared love of reading.”
Community Health is one of the pillars of our comprehensive fundraising campaign, This Moment: Put a Child’s Future First. By establishing this literacy endowment, The Rona Jaffe Foundation is helping to sustain these vital programs for future generations. We are so very grateful for their support, and for the immeasurable impact it will have on kids and families all throughout our community.