Big or small, your gift matters.
Good health should start at the beginning with the first years, first words and first books. HealthLinc’s Healthy Futures initiative supports our youngest patients' physical, emotional and developmental well-being by meeting them where they are: in the exam room, in their homes and in their growing minds.
Why This Matters
Healthy futures don’t just happen, they’re built through early support, nurturing environments and consistent care. The early years are critical for brain development, emotional regulation and school readiness. Without early access to books, screenings and guidance, many children fall behind before they’ve even had a chance to begin.
- Whole-Child Care: Pediatric visits at HealthLinc go beyond vaccines and check-ups. We support early learning, social-emotional development and strong parent-child bonds.
- Literacy as a Health Tool: Through Reach Out and Read, our providers give books to children at well-child visits and coach caregivers on the power of reading aloud.
- Success from the Start: Your support helps ensure that every child gets the tools they need for a healthy start in life.
Current Projects
Reach Out and Read
Children receive a brand-new, age-appropriate book at every well-child visit from 6 months to 5 years, but it's about more than just story time. Through our participation with Reach Out and Read, our medical providers integrate early literacy into pediatric care by offering guidance to parents on the importance of reading aloud and building daily routines around books.
Early literacy is among the strongest predictors of school success and long-term health outcomes. Children who are read to regularly develop stronger vocabularies, better language skills and improved attention spans, setting the stage for academic confidence, emotional development and lifelong learning. Research shows that children growing up in homes with books and reading routines hear millions more words by kindergarten than those who do not.
For many families we serve, the books we give may be the only ones in the home. With your support, we can help close the literacy gap, empower parents and give every child the opportunity to thrive.
Books cost $3.50 each, and HealthLinc plans to serve over 4,570 patients.
Goal: $16,000
Funds Raised: $0
Backpacks, School Physicals, and Well-Child Checks
HealthLinc is seeking support for its annual Back-to-School Health Fair series, National Health Center Week (NHCW), which provides resources for families in the communities we serve. HealthLinc hosts celebrations throughout late July and early August. The NHCW celebrations feature events for children and families at our clinics or a community partner location, typically reaching 200-250 children at each event. All HealthLinc events are open to the public, whether participants are patients or not. Children who participate will receive a backpack filled with school supplies to help them start the year on the right foot. Additionally, we will provide well-child checks and sports physicals at no cost for uninsured families.
Goal: $5,000
Funds Raised: $0
Your Impact
Dr. Courtney Glos, a pediatrician at HealthLinc Michigan City, commented, "The utilization of books from the Reach Out and Read Program plays a crucial role in my assessment of a child’s development and the parent-child relationship. As a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, I know the importance of early childhood literacy, and the books serve as an instrument to emphasize this with my patients. By sharing my passion for reading and incorporating books into my interactions with families, I can observe key aspects of the child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development while modeling appropriate interaction techniques. This allows for a deeper understanding of the child’s wellness, particularly between six months and six years, as I assess their language skills, motor abilities, and emotional responsiveness. The introduction of books further highlights the importance of early childhood literacy, fostering a nurturing environment that promotes cognitive growth and strengthens the parent-child bond. The excitement the patients have related to having a book to take home and own really invigorates the office staff, and it allows us to also get back to the importance of play in the development of children."
Join Us in Shaping Healthy Futures
Every child deserves to grow up with the chance to thrive. When you give to Healthy Futures, you’re helping build strong starts for little ones across our communities.
Your gift makes a difference from day one, whether it's placing a book in tiny hands, helping a parent understand a diagnosis, or ensuring a child is referred for early services.
Ready to make an impact?
Donate now or contact Madeleine Doyle at donations@healthlincchc.org or 888-580-1060 ext. 2981.