The Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is currently focused on the following program initiatives:

Reach Out and Read Iowa (ROR Iowa)

Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national program that makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary health care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading.  It trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age, with a special focus on children growing up in poverty.  By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, ROR helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading.

The ROR model consists of three elements, including:

1. In the exam room, doctors and nurses trained in early literacy encourage parents to read aloud to their children, and offer age-appropriate tips.
2. The pediatric primary care provider gives every child between 6 months and five years of age a new developmentally-appropriate children’s book.
3. Displays, information, and gently-used books create a literacy-rich environment in the waiting room.  Where possible, volunteers read aloud.

Children who participate in ROR enter school with their own personal library of beautiful books, a treasure, when the families of many children growing up in poverty lack the money to buy books or may not have easy access to good children’s books.

ROR-Iowa represents a growing coalition of 70 individuals ROR programs across the state serving 51,000 children each year.  Nationally, there are 4,500 sites in which 3.8 million children participate annually.

The purpose of the ROR-Iowa coalition is to serve more children by raising awareness; expanding to new sites; training; advocating; and providing funds for books.  This collective effort builds additional support for all ROR sites in Iowa.

To become a ROR site, contact

Molly Olinger Topf

ROR-Iowa Coalition Leader

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Find Out More About ROR At The State And National Level

Oral Health

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States. It is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. Pediatricians and other child health professionals can have a major impact on oral health outcomes for children through early intervention such as counseling families, identifying high-risk children, initiating timely dental referrals, and administration of appropriate fluoride modalities.

Healthy Mental Development

Children's healthy social and emotional development is essential to school readiness, academic success, and overall well-being. The IA AAP believes young children's healthy mental development can reduce the prevalence of developmental and behavioral disorders which can have high costs and long-term consequences for health, education, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems.