LVMC, United Way, Open the Book on Literacy Program

Extoling the virtues of reading, learning and using books as a building block of health, Lompoc Valley Medical Center and United Way Northern Santa Barbara County showcased a free literacy program for newborns and toddlers, during a ceremony Friday.

Literacy 2.0 is a United Way effort to assist families in enrolling their children at birth through age 5 in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The global book gifting program mails free, high-quality books to enrolled children, from birth to age 5. United Way couples that with promoting a financial literacy effort for children and families.

After LVMC joined forces with United Way on the effort, every baby born at LVMC will now be provided information about signing up for the free program.

LVMC Chief Executive Officer Yvette Cope said the hospital is proud to take a “small step with a big impact.”

“At our hospital, we know that good health starts early -- not just with physical care, but with emotional and developmental support,” Cope said. “Reading to infants helps build healthy brains, strong bonds and a foundation for lifelong learning. Literacy is a building block of health. Children who grow up with books are more likely to thrive -- in school, in decision-making and in life.”

Eddie Taylor, CEO of United Way Northern Santa Barbara County, said it is no small effort to get the program established at hospitals, including LVMC and Marian Medical Regional Center.

“To get a hospital involved in doing what we’re doing is huge,” he said. “This doesn’t happen everywhere. We’ve been blessed here, so every single child that’s born in the North County is entered into these programs. Every single parent is getting access to the parent engagement program. And every single parent and child is going to have access to a custodial savings account to get started on financial stability and literacy.”

Flanked by a life-size cardboard cutout of Dolly Parton, Cope and Taylor spoke to several dozen gathered hospital staff and community members, including a number of young children.

LVMC Perinatal Manager Angela Fichtner, BSN, RNC-OB, said so far, 22 families have signed up for the program after having babies at the hospital. Several pregnant women in the crowd Friday expressed interest in signing up.

“We look forward to reaching many families in our community and building a lasting impact on their lives,” Fichtner said.

Taylor said the program also includes strong components of financial literacy and education, as well as parent engagement.

Since it began in 1995, Dolly Parton’s nonprofit Imagination Library has gifted more than 250 million free books in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. The effort is funded by The Dollywood Foundation and local community partners. Families have the option to choose English or Spanish/bilingual books, which promote essential skills and knowledge necessary for lifelong success.

Parents wanting to sign-up for the Imagination Library can visit the LVMC website at lompocvmc.com and look under “Resources” on the “Birthing Center” service page.