Pilot reading promotion program in public healthcare settings of the Attica region.

Focused on families with young children, “By Reading They Grow” is implemented in collaboration with community health professionals working in 10 public primary healthcare settings in Attica region, in areas with large numbers of vulnerable families. The main purpose of the program is to offer training and continuous support to health professionals, as well as to provide them with books to use during the infants’ and toddlers’ health consultation visits. An additional aim is to boost older children’s interest in reading by placing books in the waiting rooms. Started in March 2023, the program is under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture which has also offered a financial support. The second phase (October 2023 – March 2024) consists of donating a book to every child aged 12-24 months, during the health consultation visits, and the renewal of the book collection in the waiting rooms, while possibilities for collaboration with municipalities and local libraries will be explored.  The information collected during the implementation of the pilot program is expected to lead to the planning of a wider reading promotion intervention.