Our Vision: “The First Response is a Book for Every Child-In-Crisis.”
Our Mission: To provide First Responders books and backpacks to Comfort children-in-crisis.
Our Story:
Founded in 2007, REACH-A-Child™ (REACH) works with First Responders everywhere to ensure that they have the necessary tool to reach children-in-crisis: an age-appropriate book that redirects the child’s attention from the crisis at hand, allowing them an emotional escape from their fears. Whether a child is in an automobile accident, a victim of a domestic disturbance, or experiences a trauma, research has shown the power of a book and a positive interaction with an adult can turn a negative situation into a positive one – for both the child and the First Responder.
Our Program: The REACH BAG Program operates as follows:
- Each squad or emergency vehicle is equipped with a First Responder BAG containing the following: 10 children’s books and 10 drawstring backpacks.
- When First Responders encounter a child-in-crisis, they offer the child a book which the child gets to keep.
- The First Responder also gives the child a drawstring backpack to put the book in – and anything else the child might have to keep with them.
- Each squad receives refills of 10 books and 10 backpacks at least once per year.
- The cost for each vehicle to be equipped, including 1 BAG refill, is $150.
For More Information, Please CONTACT:
Carole Klopp, Executive Director P: 608-213-5170 E: carole.klopp@reachachild.org
Eric Salzwedel, Marketing Coordinator P: 920-210-8843 E: eric.salzwedel@reachachild.org
