Centro de Salud Esperanza

A 2011 grant from Nuestro Futuro has helped to expand the Reach Out & Read program, enhancing early literacy for children of Spanish speaking parents.

Centro de Salud Esperanza offers more than just health services to the Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods. Through the Enhanced Reach Out & Read Program, staff begin preparing children for lifelong academic success from their very first check-ups.

At the 9-month well-child visit, pediatricians give parents an age-appropriate book and a "prescription" for lots of reading together—plus strategies to help when the parents themselves have low levels of literacy. The program also connects families with Head Start programs and guides them through enrollment.

Wanda Dukes and her daughter Natalie were perfect candidates. "She's been coming to Esperanza since Natalie was born,” explains Olga Gonzalez, early childhood literacy coordinator. "She's a great mom, very responsible. She brings Natalie to all of her visits."

At Natalie's 9-month well-child visit, Olga explained the options for early education. "If someone wouldn’t have told me, I wouldn't know about Head Start services," Wanda recalls. "I followed up on it right away. Within a month Natalie had her first class."

Because Wanda works full-time, a Head Start parent educator comes to her home at 6 p.m. every Tuesday to engage Natalie and Wanda in early reading activities.

"I didn't know that kids can learn so fast at such an early age!" Wanda says. "When the teacher points out different animals to her she’s able to distinguish between them: a cow, a duck. Participating in this program is encouraging me to teach her even more."

"The Head Start program is also great because they ask you about any other services you may need. I'm receiving assistance to ween my daughter off her pacifier. I think it's a really great program—I just recommended this Head Start program to one of my friends with a 14 month old son!"

Learn more about Nuestro Futuro, the Trust's affiliate that supports programs improving the quality of life of Latinos in metropolitan Chicago.