NorthBay Pediatrician is a Local Hero for Children’s Literacy
Books can carry a reader through history, around the globe, soaring through space, and even into the worlds of imagination. For Dr. Judy Yang, books can also strengthen the bonds of a child and their parents or caregivers through shared reading.
Dr. Yang became entrenched in this philosophy 21 years ago through the Reach Out and Read program, and on Sunday, Nov. 3, the NorthBay Health pediatrician’s unwavering dedication to that cause landed her in the spotlight. The Solano County Library Foundation, which sponsors the literacy program, celebrated Dr. Yang’s work by naming her this year’s Beth Shedden Award recipient at its 24th Annual Authors Luncheon in Fairfield.
The coveted award is given to someone who demonstrates the passionate advocacy for children’s literacy embodied by Shedden, a Fairfield businesswoman who tirelessly worked to bring the program to Solano County in 1999. The national program began in 1989 “by doctors for doctors” to introduce literacy intervention in well-child visits – a program now endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Totally surprised,” Dr. Yang said humbly in response to receiving the award. “I’m just grateful for the honor.”
Dr. Yang first became familiar with Reach Out and Read in 2003 while serving her residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina. The program was part of her residency training. Then, in 2008, she began working for NorthBay.
“When I came to NorthBay, I saw that we didn’t have any association with the program,” Dr. Yang recalled. “Suddenly, I felt like I was missing a limb.”
Dr. Yang took action. She spearheaded an effort to introduce the grant-funded program to NorthBay administrators and her peers, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. NorthBay soon adopted the program. Since then, NorthBay has distributed more than 50,000 books to families. This past year alone NorthBay contributed $15,000 to the purchase of children’s books for its four primary care clinics.
Every child – from newborn through the age of five – receives a new book upon their visit to a NorthBay primary care clinic. Parents or caregivers are shown how to also engage with their child through reading by a pediatrician.
“I’m very, very grateful for Dr. Yang,” said Teresa Lavell, Solano County Library’s literacy program assistant. “In the literacy office, I’m the one who coordinates the program for the county. I go out to different clinics, trying to implement the program with some fidelity, as opposed to just handing out a book. Ideally, the medical provider is using the book both as a diagnostic tool and an opportunity to model reading with babies during an actual well-child visit. But remember these are busy people.
“That’s where Dr. Yang is invaluable. She comes in as someone with medical expertise and can talk to them on a peer level and get them to implement the program as designed by the doctors who first put it together. She is the one who has that peer-to-peer authority to advocate for the program.”
Dr. Yang has graciously shared her knowledge by training more than 60 healthcare providers throughout Solano County, from neighboring medical systems such as David Grant Medical Center and Sutter Health, as well as 14 primary care clinics.
“Countywide, the program has distributed just under 350,000 books in large part due to the ripple effect of Dr. Yang’s work,” Lavell noted. “Dr. Yang has volunteered her time as Medical Director in partnership with the library to help guide the program for all of Solano County Reach Out and Read clinics since 2018.”
The Reach Out and Read program goes far beyond literacy.
“Reading is really critical to the emotional and physical health of the child,” said Dr. Yang, whose office is at NorthBay’s newly designed primary care clinic on Hilborn Road in Fairfield.
Studies have shown children can experience their greatest period of developmental growth during their first five years, and that reading books can help a child identify shapes, colors, and numbers.
“There is no two-year-old who is going to pick up a book and teach themselves to read,” Lavell said. “And it’s not just about academics. It’s also about that relational health that goes on between caregiver and child. That sets the stage for warm moments of companionable reading and sharing of stories. It’s just a wonderful opportunity for families to really engage on a meaningful level with one another.
“So, if the kids have a book and they bring it to a parent or a caregiver, that’s a magical moment.”
Dr. Yang savors such powerful moments.
“Those special moments often occur by observing how parents are reading with their children,” Dr. Yang explained. “That’s when I and other Reach Out and Read-trained providers are able to provide guidance and role model dialogic versus didactic reading. For example, frequently the interaction is more focused on getting words and letters correct.”
Once, while watching a father read to his five-year-old daughter during a wellness visit, Dr. Yang noticed the child showed little reaction.
“So, I took a turn,” Yang remembered. “I was able to help shift the focus to a more open conversation such as having the child describe what is on the page. The child’s eyes lit up, and a dialogue began. In that moment, the father astutely recognized what was happening and followed suit. All of a sudden, you could see a dialogue begin and their interaction was entirely different. It was actually very touching; very moving to watch this change occur in real time.”
The Reach Out and Read program offers a straightforward mission: “Strengthen all families with young children through guidance from medical clinicians about nurturing relationships through shared reading.” The objective is to have a physician – often a trusted authority in the lives of young families – encourage these healthy exchanges through reading.
Dr. Yang epitomizes this trust and dedication to healthy, familial bonds.
“One of the indicators of health is that a child has an opportunity to learn,” Lavell said. “NorthBay has taken this to heart, as has Dr. Yang. And, for me, I’m so proud to work alongside her. She is truly amazing.”
For those who wish to donate to the Reach Out and Read program, contact the Solano County Library Foundation.
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