Strong communities are built through strong partnerships. Greater Gallatin United Way is grateful to work alongside the Gallatin City-County Health Department to connect more local children and families with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Through this partnership, Maternal and Child Health staff introduce the program to families during pregnancy and throughout a child’s early years. They share the benefits of early literacy, answer questions, and help families enroll whenever possible through postpartum outreach, Home Visiting, WIC, and other Maternal and Child Health services.
Because families connect with these programs at different stages, staff are able to reach not only newborns, but also eligible siblings and children up to age five who may not have previously had the opportunity to participate.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails one free, age-appropriate book each month to enrolled children from birth until their fifth birthday. By introducing the program during routine conversations with families, the Health Department is helping parents discover a simple resource that supports healthy development, builds early reading habits, and creates meaningful opportunities for families to spend time together.
The partnership has already made a difference. Gallatin County saw a significant increase in newborn enrollment after Imagination Library enrollment was incorporated into routine postpartum outreach. The approach has been so successful that it attracted interest from Montana’s First Lady, who asked to learn more about how the model could be replicated in communities across the state.
“Every family wants the best possible start for their child, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways to support early childhood development. By connecting families to free books early in their child’s life, we’re helping families build daily reading routines, strengthen parent-child relationships, and foster a lifelong love of learning. We’re grateful for our partnership with Greater Gallatin United Way in making this incredible resource available to families throughout our community.”
— Amie Gatterdam, Maternal Child Health Services Group Manager
At Greater Gallatin United Way, we know early learning begins long before a child enters a classroom. By working with trusted community partners like the Gallatin City-County Health Department, we can meet families where they are, remove barriers to participation, and help more children begin life with books in their homes.
This partnership is a powerful example of what is possible when organizations work together around a shared goal: giving every child the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Children under age five living in Gallatin County can enroll in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at no cost to their families.