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Empowering Healthcare & Community Partners Through Early Literacy

📅 Date: May 15, 2026
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
📍 Location: Virtual (Zoom Webinar)
📩 Zoom details will be shared two weeks before the conference                                                                            

Earn 3 CME credits

Free for Reach Out and Read of Greater New York Network

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York is pleased to host our annual conference, providing healthcare and community partners with insights, strategies, and research-driven approaches to support the continued impact of early literacy.

This year’s theme focuses on creating welcoming clinics equipped to serve not just families’ health care needs, but to become a community hub for resources, supports, and connections.

Conference Schedule

🕘 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Keynote Speaker
🕘 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Panel 1
🕜 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Panel 2

Keynote: Maximizing the Impact of Reach Out and Read Literacy Promotion: Anticipatory Guidance and Modeling

Keynote Speaker: Manurel E. Jimenez, MD, MPH
In this keynote, Manuel E. Jimenez, MD, MPH, will highlight new evidence showing that Reach Out and Read is most effective when book distribution is paired with anticipatory guidance and clinician modeling. Drawing on recent research with Latino families, this session will demonstrate how these core components strengthen home literacy environments and promote equity in early language development. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to enhance literacy promotion during everyday well-child visits.

Supporting Immigrant Families Through Trusted Resources

Panelists: Lauren Jen, MD; Rubuyat Qadeer, MD; Emmanuel Novy, MA

Moderator: Eve Meltzer-Krief, MD

This panel will explore how clinics can thoughtfully and effectively integrate immigration-related resources into pediatric practice, from sharing trusted information to partnering with community-based organizations. Panelists will discuss what’s working on the ground, how to stay current as policies and needs evolve, and how to support families with empathy and confidence.

Through real-world examples and practical insights, this session will highlight strategies for building trust, navigating sensitive conversations, and ensuring families feel seen, safe, and supported. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas and resource pathways they can adapt to their own clinic settings, regardless of size or capacity.

Clinics as Community Hubs: Building Connection Beyond Care

Panelists: Amanda Esteves, MD; Caitlin Canfield, PhD; Marcy Stein-Albert, MD

Moderator: Elizabeth Isakson, MD

Pediatric clinics are more than places for checkups. They can serve as powerful community hubs that connect families to literacy, social supports, and resources that promote long-term health. This panel will explore best practices for embedding Reach Out and Read within a broader, holistic approach to care, including referrals for adult literacy, connections to community-based services, and addressing social determinants of health. Panelists will share how clinics with varying levels of resources have successfully built referral networks and partnerships that support whole families.

Drawing on examples from sites that have integrated roles like HealthySteps Coordinators and partnered with organizations, this session will highlight scalable models for collaboration and resource sharing. Attendees will gain insight into top referral pathways, practical tools for linking families to support, and ways to position their clinics as welcoming, trusted anchors in their communities.

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This conference is a unique opportunity to connect with experts and gain valuable insights on advancing early literacy in pediatric settings.

For Questions, Contact:

📩 Jessica Lizzio – Director of Medical Engagement, Reach Out and Read GNY
📧 jlizzio@reachoutandreadnyc.org

📩 Kari Kurjiaka – Director of Literacy and Public Policy, Reach Out and Read GNY
📧 kkurjiaka@reachoutandreadnyc.org