Reach Out and Read

Background

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (and collaborating closely with the ROR National Development, ROR National Program Operations, and ROR Greater Philadelphia teams), the Strategic Consultant has a unique opportunity to help shape the future direction of Reach Out and Read (ROR) in Pennsylvania. ROR has been implemented in Pennsylvania since 1996, with the flagship site at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Primary Care Centers paving the way for future expansion of the program across the state. Reach Out and Read now serves children at 252 clinical locations in the state. ROR sites range from small community clinics to large Health Systems offices and serve a diverse population across the state, primarily targeted at serving children and families in high-need areas.

Reach Out and Read in Pennsylvania is currently supported through a number of important stakeholders, and there is ample opportunity for strengthening and building upon these existing efforts. The ROR Greater Philadelphia (RORGP) affiliate was formed in 2002 through a grant from the Knight Foundation to expand ROR to the clinics run by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The number of sites in RORGP has grown to over 80 in the ensuing years. Significant local efforts outside of this Affiliate have also bolstered the presence of ROR in PA, including a developed network of almost 20 sites in the Lancaster County region supported and sites in the Harrisburg/York region of PA who operate with the support of community partners in the region. Many primary care offices in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) primary care network are well-established ROR sites.

The RORGP Medical Director is Trude Haecker, MD and the Associate Medical Director is Danielle Erkoboni, MD, both of whom are on faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and on staff at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Both physicians have been actively working to train many of the sites across the state, regardless of their geography, in support of the broader adoption of ROR in the state. Dr. Haecker is Vice Chair of the National Board of Directors for ROR, Inc. and will assume the Chair role in January 2024. Dr. Erkoboni co-chairs the research efforts at the National Center and is a clinical researcher trained as a National Clinical Scholar. Dr. Haecker is also immediate past president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and continues to work with the chapter on state advocacy issues for young children. These two champions, alongside Reach Out and Read National and the ROR GP team, are positioned to begin the process of developing a statewide ROR Affiliate in partnership with this Strategic Consultant role.

The Opportunity

In alignment with the strategic direction of Reach Out and Read and a commitment to establishing high-quality and sustainable affiliate infrastructure in support of local program sites, ROR National has prioritized the development of a statewide affiliate in Pennsylvania. The development of this affiliate will strengthen the impact of our intervention serving the more than 300,000 children receiving well-child visits in the state each year, and allow for the exploration of ways to further expand the presence of Reach Out and Read to the communities that need us most. Experience throughout our network of 29 Reach Out and Read affiliates has demonstrated that strong local staffing and infrastructure are required to have a maximum impact on the children and families served. Effective staffing includes a strong founding strategic presence, a Director (to be hired) responsible for program sustainability and growth, a Medical Director, and Program Managers to ensure continued engagement of healthcare providers for our intervention.

Reach Out and Read is excited to bring on board a Strategic Consultant to kickstart a new phase of growth in Pennsylvania, bringing together the dedicated stakeholders in the state to promote widespread access to the program for the children and families. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned professional with deep connections across the state; non-profit, philanthropy, and early childhood sector experience; and a proven track record of building effective partnerships at all levels. We seek someone who is passionate about early childhood development and the mission of Reach Out and Read.

With the goal of establishing a statewide Reach Out and Read Affiliate (RORPA) in the next one to two years, with designated and funded staff to serve all Reach Out and Read sites in Pennsylvania, the Strategic Consultant role will help to lay the groundwork necessary to strengthen the existing infrastructure to support Reach Out and Read programs in the state and ensure high-quality program delivery, sustainability, and growth.

Key Responsibilities and Outcomes Include:

Build Support, Public Awareness, and Partnerships in the Region (75%)

  • Engage and build an Advisory Committee to advise and thought partner on the overall strategy for the Region and engage other stakeholders and advocates.
  • Work with the Advisory Committee to secure strategic partnerships and connections to advance the launch and success of the ROR Pennsylvania Affiliate.
  • Prospect potential further funding in collaboration with the Reach Out and Read National Center. Build partnerships with allies to engage in policy and advocacy support.

Strategic Analysis and Positioning (20%)

  • Carry out Strategic positioning analysis for Reach Out and Read in Pennsylvania.
  • Connect with current unaffiliated ROR medical offices in Pennsylvania, coordinate where ROR services fit within the Pennsylvania early childhood and health landscape, and the operating model that best supports those services as they exist now and allowing for expansion.
  • Work collaboratively with RORGP Policy Manager (to be hired) to coordinate efforts across the affiliate, including conversations with MCOs, legislators, and other key stakeholders.
  • Determine the optimal organizational structure type for the ROR Pennsylvania Affiliate.

Expand Reach Out and Read Affiliate Team (5%)

  • In collaboration with the National Center, guide the hiring process for a high-caliber Executive Director (ED), including working with Advisory Committee and National Center to create a ROR Pennsylvania ED job description and managing the search for the ROR Pennsylvania ED.
  • In collaboration with the ROR National and Greater Philadelphia teams, onboard the ROR Pennsylvania ED, with an emphasis on supporting introductions to key influencers in the local early childhood field.

Qualifications and Experience

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. We’ll honor your lived and professional experience as key aspects of your candidacy for the role and prioritize applicants with experience dismantling the structural inequities that disproportionately impact children and families with traditionally marginalized identities. We are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below.

  • 10+ years of relevant work experience
  • Undergraduate degree or equivalent knowledge or experience
  • Deep understanding of the early childhood landscape in Pennsylvania
  • Strategic planning and leadership experience
  • Proven track record with funder, project, and partnership management
  • Knowledge of and experience working in pediatric and/or early childhood development space
  • Proven track record of building partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders, including field leaders of early childhood or health-based organizations, policy and advocacy leaders in Harrisburg, allies, etc.
  • Ability to deliver on ambitious goals and benchmarks
  • Strong analytical skills and use of data to drive decision-making and to build consensus/support for evidence-based solutions
  • Excellent problem-solving, operational, trust-building, and communication skills
  • Proactive attitude, out-of-the-box thinking, sense of humor, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Position Specifications

This is a contract position, at a rate of $75/hour for a max number of 500 hours, anticipated 9-12 month commitment. The Consultant can be based anywhere in Pennsylvania, with a preference for candidates who are centrally located in the state, with the ability to travel state-wide for in-person meetings with stakeholders, ROR medical offices, potential partners, policymakers, etc.

Commitment to Diversity

Reach Out and Read is committed to building an organization that embraces diversity, pursues equity, and fosters an environment of inclusion. ROR sits at the intersection of health and education, uniquely positioned to play a critical role in addressing systemic disparities and inequities in the public health framework. ROR strives to be an antiracist organization, using its influence to fight against social injustice by supporting a culture of learning, empowerment, equity, and a deep appreciation for the unique experiences that we each bring to our communities. And, we believe that changing the world begins with holding ourselves and our workplace to that same standard.

About Reach Out and Read

Founded in 1989, Reach Out and Read is a national non-profit organization working to ensure all families have the opportunity to create meaningful everyday moments through shared reading aloud and building relationships. By leveraging pediatric care to champion the positive effects of reading daily and distribute books, Reach Out and Read gives young children a foundation for success and reaches 4.2 million children across the county – half of whom identify as BIPOC and quarter of whom come from low-income families.

Reach Out and Read’s tens of thousands of trained pediatric providers use books as a diagnostic tool during regular check-ups, and teach parents how to engage their child with a book to promote positive parent-child interactions during the rapid brain growth between birth and age five. The daily practice of reading aloud with a parent supports children’s literacy and math skill development, their social-emotional development, and prepares them for future success in school. Working together with our sites and providers, we leverage our three decades of expertise, build on our literacy foundations, and engage our shared networks as a catalyst for change, focusing on equitably strengthening and deepening our impact on the children, families, and communities we serve.

The Impact

  • Reach Out and Read program sites are located in 6,000 clinics, safety net hospitals, medical systems, and other healthcare settings in all 50 states, Washington, D. C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Reach Out and Read serves 4.2 million children and their families annually.
  • More than 6.5 million new, developmentally appropriate books are given to children annually.
  • 33,000 medical providers currently participate in Reach Out and Read.
  • Our peer-reviewed body of evidence demonstrates that Reach Out and Read parents are two-and-a-half times more likely to read regularly to their children, and that children experiencing Reach Out and Read show enhanced language development.

To learn more about Reach Out and Read, visit www.reachoutandread.org.

------------------------------EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER------------------------------

Reach Out and Read is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status. Reach Out and Read is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team. If specific accommodations are needed, please notify us and our HR team will work to accommodate your needs.

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