United Way is pleased to announce the start of a new early childhood literacy program - Sprout into Reading - in Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, Allamakee and Fayette counties, thanks to generous support from the Dubuque Racing Association.

"Because family involvement is one of the top indicators of early literacy success, we developed a cost effective program for our greater service area that provides quality books and includes helpful literacy strategies from trained staff to increase family involvement," Danielle Peterson, United Way President/CEO, explains. Research shows the earlier families become involved in children's literacy practices, the longer lasting the effect.

Sprout into Reading is outcome-based and targets low-income youth ages birth to five years of age. A key focus of the program is to provide direct distribution of books to qualifying children through strategic partnerships with Parents as Teachers of Four Oaks, Helping Services for Youth & Families in Northeast Iowa, Parent Share & Support, Inc., Regional Medical Center - Manchester, Crescent Community Health Center, Dubuque County Visiting Nurses Association, and Guttenberg Municipal Hospital.  More information can be found on United Way's  website .