Books Connect
Building brain growth and bonding, one book at a time.
Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department is building a library for our littlest community members. In 2016 our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program helped 688 families and our Maternal and Child Health Program helped 215 families.
Why?
- 95 % of the brain is formed in the first 6 years of life.
- A child’s experiences irreversibly affects how the brain develops-for better or worse.
- Positive parenting during early years creates a strong parent child bond that promote healthy brain development.
How?
- A book will be offered to each child at their initial visit with WIC or MCH visit.
- Each Nurse will have ability to assess child’s interaction with a book regarding developmental stages and bonding between parent and child.
- Each book offered will allow discussion with parent on bonding and development.
- If a parent doesn’t read, it allows discussion on how to story tell with a child.
- Books can be offered in other languages, if English is not first language.
- Allows discussion on how important it is to have books in the home.
What is needed?
- Financial partnership to build and support our maternal and child health library.
- Brand new books for each child/family at initial visit.
- Gentle used books for our library.
- Book Shelves.
- Children’s furniture for reading.