Born To Read Partners

Active statewide partnerships enable Born to Read to bring books and the joys of reading to those who may not otherwise have this opportunity, and to foster an environment in which to share ideas. Our goal is to generate an excitement that will make everyone we reach a lifelong reader.

Born to Read's partners include:

• RSVP (Retired and Volunteer Program)
  RSVP is part of Senior Corps, a network of national service programs where older Americans can bring their life experiences to help meet community needs. In 1998, Born to Read teamed up with HealthReach RSVP in Waterville to create the Volunteer Reader Program. This partnership has grown to include all five of Maine's RSVP agencies. In 2003, there were 112 volunteer reader visiting child care sites throughout the state.
  
  
• Office of Child Care and Head Start
  The Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care and Head Start, provides the funding for books distributed to child care providers and volunteer readers. It also provides additional technical assistance as needed to help Born to Read best serve the early literacy needs of Maine children in child care.
  
  
• Maine Roads to Quality (MRTQ)
  MRTQ is Maine's Child Care and Early Education Career Development Center. Located within the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service, its purpose is to promote and support professionalism in the child care and early education fields. A diversity training partnership between Born to Read & MRTQ offers a two-part training, "Weaving Diversity" and "Many Eyes, Many Voices: Talking About Difference through Children's Literature."
  
  
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMCE)
  Born to Read teamed up with the UMCE in 1997 as a pilot project and has since expanded its partnership to all 16 Maine counties. UMCE's nutrition associates visit Head Start programs and the homes of some of Maine's neediest families. Born to Read provides books for these programs and families, training the associates to use the books and related activities to promote early literacy activities as well as healthy relationships with food, family, and the community.