A Brief History
Reading Rx was founded in 1996 by pediatrician, Hilary Pert Stecklein, MD, and pediatric psychologist, Kathleen Pfaffinger, PhD, LP. Concerned about the amount of family violence, under-development of children, and inadequate parenting seen in their clinical practices, they wanted to develop a program that would increase parent-child interaction and counter some of the negative cultural influences that effect families and communities. They wanted to develop an intervention program that would empower health care providers to help make those changes within families.
After thoroughly reviewing available programs and research on attachment, media violence, brain development, brain friendly learning and literacy, they conducted informal surveys and found that many of their colleagues also wanted to find ways to effectively combat increasing family plights. In conjunction with writing consultant Jennifer Jones, they formed Reading Rx to promote family literacy and bonding, as well as to encourage critical media viewing skills.
Reading Rx received 501 (c) (3) status in March 1997. The first clinic sites were opened in April, 1997.