Hill Crest Launches Literacy Project to Promote Reading and Writing

Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services, a Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. (PSI) facility, recently introduced a literacy outreach project, a program developed to promote literacy and education for its patients. Employees and their families are encouraged to donate books of all genres, including those with activities and coping resources to be used in tailored literacy teachings.

In the program, the patient’s literacy development is nourished by social interaction with caregivers and exposure to a wide range of reading materials. The child’s reading level and/or the existence of possible learning challenges are considered for each reading session, and may include participation in a caregiver-led story time, or an open discussion about the book. Children are also given the opportunity to reenact stories from pictures, or to rewrite the endings.

To further enhance literacy, caregivers incorporate additional exercises, such as word recognition, writing skills, conventional spelling, sentence structure and word meanings. These exercises are all meant to help build confidence and expand each patient’s understanding of basic literacy concepts. The goal of the literacy project is to increase knowledge and self esteem by providing opportunities, support and encouragement to become a successful reader.

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