The State Government will provide funding of $540,000 to Raising Literacy Australia’s Read to Me – Out of Home Care program for the next three years, with children and their family-based carers set to benefit.
Read to Me sees South Australian children aged six and under in out of home care receive a quarterly package which includes age-appropriate books to further promote their learning and positive adult-child interactions.
The government said 97% of carers believe the packages benefit children in their care, with 85% of carers indicating it promotes further ‘together’ time.
The new funding commitment will see the program continue for the next three years.
In addition to the regular flow of new books, children also receive a Read to Me library bag, with carers receiving resources, including an activity book and role modelling DVD.
Since 2018 the number of carers reading to children in their care multiple times every week has increased by 50%.
