Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read is a national literacy program designed to encourage parents to read to children and promote literacy, which can help identify developmental delays and promote overall healthy growth. Under Ochsner's Reach Out and Read program, pediatricians encourage parents to participate in the program by giving infant, toddler and preschool pediatric patients a free, developmentally and culturally appropriate book and encouraging parents to read it to their children. Not only is this a tool for children in literacy development, it also allows physicians to further gauge the child's ability to remember stories, count and eventually to read. Reach Out and Read is available at all Ochsner Pediatric sites. Learn more about Reach Out and Read.

I Can Do It/On the Move

The I Can Do It! childhood obesity initiative began in 2001 at Ochsner Fitness Center as a program to help at-risk children due to obesity and inactivity adopt healthy lifestyles. In 2007, Ochsner launched its customized mobile fitness unit On the Move to travel the region encouraging healthy nutrition and active lifestyles for all children. On the Move includes strength and cardiovascular circuit workouts, nutrition lectures, and heart-healthy cooking classes and demonstrations by Ochsner's executive chef Marc Gilberti, and is designed to teach parents and kids how to incorporate healthier foods and behaviors into their lifestyle. On the Move engages more than 9,000 children per year at area schools during regularly scheduled visits.

Visit Ochsner Fitness Center's Web site to find out more about Kids On the Move

To learn more about Childhood Health Initiatives, check out Change the Kids, Change the Future™