In 2025, Midwest Dairy launched a new partnership with Reach Out and Read National, the only national pediatric literacy model endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Reach Out and Read works through a network of pediatric clinics to promote early literacy as a key part of child health and development, reaching families during important well-child visits.
This partnership helps Midwest Dairy connect with parents and caregivers at a trusted moment: when they are talking with pediatric providers about their child’s growth, nutrition, and overall well-being.
Reaching Families Through Pediatric Care
Across Midwest Dairy’s 10-state region, Reach Out and Read includes 799 clinics and more than 6,400 pediatric clinicians, serving over 1 million families each year through well-child visits. As part of the partnership, Midwest Dairy supported the purchase and distribution of 22,000 new children’s books to clinics throughout the region.
Each shipment of books included a letter explaining the partnership and its focus on literacy, nutrition, and healthy development. Feedback from clinics was immediate and heartfelt, with providers expressing appreciation for the books—many noting how meaningful it was to have new resources available for families during visits.
Supporting Providers with Nutrition Resources
Beyond book distribution, Reach Out and Read developed a dedicated online resource hub that includes dairy nutrition education for providers, dairy and farm-friendly book lists, and information about the partnership’s connection to dairy farmers. These tools help pediatric providers confidently discuss nutrition with families while reinforcing dairy’s role in healthy growth and development.
The partnership also created opportunities to expand beyond the Midwest. Because Reach Out and Read operates nationally, Midwest Dairy coordinated with additional state and regional dairy organizations to extend the effort. This collaboration added 14,000 more books for 531 clinics, reaching more than 640,000 families annually in additional states.
Extending Impact Through Communications
The partnership includes a multi-channel communications effort designed to broaden awareness and reinforce trust. Planned outreach includes social media promotion through Reach Out and Read’s national and state channels, earned media pitching, digital search ads, and promotional content in multiple newsletters. Results from these efforts will be shared in early 2026.
Building Trust Where Families Learn and Grow
By partnering with pediatric providers and literacy leaders, Midwest Dairy is helping families connect healthy eating, reading, and development, reinforcing dairy’s role in nourishing children during their earliest years.