PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield Health Center's 'Reach Out and Read' Program Celebrated at New Borders Opening

For Immediate Release: Friday, November 30, 2001-PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY- The Plainfield Health Center, one of twelve Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey, dedicated to providing cost effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities, announced today that its "Reach Out and Read" program is the recipient of Borders' new Watchung store opening celebration community benefit.

"Reach Out and Read" was developed at Boston Medical Center in 1989 by a group of pediatricians and early childhood educators, aimed at making literacy a standard part of pediatric care. Participating health centers nationwide, are supported by volunteers who read to children in the waiting rooms. In the examining room, children receive age appropriate books to take home. Children receive a new book at each visit. Parents are counseled on how to use books to support their child's development. If parents lack basic literacy skills, they are referred to the Literacy Hotline.

"We are delighted that Borders has chosen Plainfield Health Center, and the "Reach Out and Read" program as the beneficiary of their opening community benefit celebration," said Julane Miller-Armbrister, Chief Executive Officer. "We know that literacy is critical to patients' ability to follow medical instructions throughout their lives, and we believe that initiating a reading program at the youngest patient level can be the beginning of good reading habits and good health." The Plainfield Health Center has been fortunate to have Union County College Professors Susan Stack and Judy Mayer as reading volunteers and initiators of this program.

To donate books or to volunteer to become a reader for the program at the Plainfield Health Center, contact Jo-Ann Wilkins on 908-753-6401, ext.152.

About The Plainfield Health Center

The Plainfield Health Center, incorporated as the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, was born in 1969 under the auspices of the 1960's Model Cities Neighborhood Program. Led by a dedicated group of community activists, the Center was initially created to provide accessible health care to the residents of the West End of Plainfield.

Since then, the Center has grown, added more services, increased the number of specialties of professional health staff, and expanded its reach to the entire City of Plainfield and neighboring communities. Today, the Plainfield Health Center serves more than 16,000 patients annually. Its total care program provides adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, school based services, dentistry and ancillary support services.

copyright © PHC 2002