Starting a Program

Reach Out and Read has become an essential part of thousands of pediatric practices across the country. Extending the ROR experience to your hospital will mean that your clinic offers new and valuable benefits to your patients and their families including important developmental guidance, beautiful age-appropriate books, and enrichment in the waiting room.

You may qualify for ROR if your facility has:

• An outpatient clinic providing health supervision (“well-child”) visits.
• Serves children 6-months to 5 years of age.
• At least one children’s primary care provider (doctor or nurse) who is ready to help start a ROR program by acting as the ROR program medical director.

How to start a program:

The first step is to apply to become a ROR site. The easiest way to do this is online through the Reach Out and Read National Center website.

In order to complete your application the following is needed:

• Number of primary care providers at the site
• Number of well-child visits performed in one year
• Insurance coverage of patients (% covered by Medicaid, % uninsured, etc.)
• Average annual income of patient population as a % of Federal Poverty Level
• Letter of Support from senior leadership

Helpful Links to ROR National Center:

Site Guidelines: Learn more about how to apply to become a ROR site.

Sample application: Preview the application before completing online.

FAQ’s about becoming a site.

Application: Online application form.

If you would like a step-by-step orientation to the application process please contact Maureen Finneran, ROR AI/AN Coalition Leader at 1/800-433-9016 ext. 7106 or ror@aap.org.