Inside Report for October 8, 2009

• By MARSHA SILLS
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Oct 8, 2009 - Page: 9B

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“The Little Engine That Could” just might help Louisiana children excel in kindergarten.

The book is the first one delivered to children up to age 5 who are part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. Each month, children in the program receive a new, age-appropriate book mailed to their homes.

The program was first launched in Louisiana last spring in Eunice through the St. Landry-Evangeline United Way, and is now offered in at least a dozen parishes.

Evaluations of programs in other states by Parton’s Dollywood Foundation show parents reported reading more often to their children and the books helped parents become more aware of their own child’s reading level.

In Louisiana, the program is expected to translate into improved literacy among the state’s youngest children.

“We want to make sure that our children are prepared for kindergarten,” said Corleen Rouly, executive director of the United Way of Iberia.

Simply reading to children can move their vocabulary from 4,000 words to 15,000 words by the time they begin kindergarten, Rouly said.

The United Way of Iberia has 445 children enrolled in its program.

The majority of the existing programs in the state are in Acadiana. Earlier this month, the United Way of Acadiana began the program in four parishes — Acadia, St. Martin, Vermilion and Lafayette — with 1,000 children already enrolled.

By the end of next year, that number should grow to 6,600 children, says Margaret Trahan, United Way of Acadiana’s president and chief executive officer.

United Way of Central Louisiana reports more than 600 children in its program.

The United Way of St. Charles has nearly 800 children in its program since the launch two months ago.

The St. Landry-Evangeline United Way reports more than 600 children enrolled.