Press Release

The Library Dads partner with Grady Memorial Hospital to support early literacy for expecting families

New collaboration targets early childhood development and family engagement

ATLANTA – May 1, 2026  – The Library Dads  are proud to announce the launch of Library Babies in partnership with Grady Hospital, a new initiative under the hospital’s successful “Talk With Me Baby” program. This collaboration is designed to support early childhood development through literacy, parent education and community engagement. This monumental partnership integrates literacy resources directly into the birthing experience at one of the nation’s largest health centers.

 

Through this initiative, The Library Dads will provide Grady with specially curated Literacy Kits. These kits,  which will include interactive books for infants and supportive resources for parents, will be distributed by Grady staff to families after the birth of their child. While the program is inclusive of all caregivers, it intentionally centers father engagement, ensuring dads feel seen and equipped from the earliest stages of their child’s life.

 

“We are extremely excited to partner with Grady by providing materials and sharing lessons that will improve the future of literacy in Atlanta,” said Khari Arnold, Founder and President of The Library Dads.  “Once fathers and caregivers become aware that 70% of brain development occurs during the infancy stage, reading to their baby each day should become a priority. Beyond that, I’m thrilled these kits are curated with books that helped me build a deep bond with my own daughter. We want other families to share that joyful experience."

 

The program begins during the prenatal phase, where families will be introduced to The Library Dads through Grady’s "Centering Pregnancy" workshops. During these sessions, families will receive guidance on reading aloud and forming a supportive parenting community. 

 

“We are incredibly excited to partner with The Library Dads to further strengthen family engagement around early language and literacy development,” said Denise Mayhan, PhD, Director of Practice Operations for Talk With Me Baby at Grady Health System. “This partnership beautifully complements Grady’s existing Talk With Me Baby initiative by expanding opportunities for fathers and families to build strong, nurturing connections with their children through everyday conversations, reading and shared learning experiences. Together, we are helping families create language-rich environments that support healthy brain development and long-term success for children.”

This program is made possible through the generous support of the LuluMa Foundation.

Key Objectives of Library Babies:

 

• Advance Early Literacy: Introducing language exposure beginning at birth.

• Strengthen Bonding: Encouraging parent-child connection through reading and communication.

• Increase Father Engagement: Providing tools to help fathers take an active role in early learning.

• Integrated Health Support: Combining literacy with maternal and infant health resources.

• Showcase Library Programming: Promoting over 50 baby storytimes in the Atlanta area. 

• Inspire Community Engagement: Helping parents find other parents to connect with.

 

About The Library Dads

The Library Dads, Inc. is a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Organization based in Atlanta, Ga. designed to empower bonding experiences between dads and their children, expose kids to the power and joy of books and establish a supportive brotherhood of active fathers. The organization's signature program is known as Library Link-Up, which brings dads and their kids together at local libraries to be present, read books and build connections.

 

About Grady Health System

Grady Health System is one of the largest safety-net health systems in the United States. Anchored by the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, Grady is Atlanta's only Level I trauma center and serves as the city's 911 ambulance provider. The system includes Correll Pavilion, Grady South Emergency Department, ten neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

 

Grady is home to the Walter L. Ingram Burn Center – one of only two burn centers in Georgia verified by the American Burn Association – and the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center, a Joint Commission-designated Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center.

 

Other key services include Georgia’s first Cancer Center for Excellence, the Avon Comprehensive Breast Center, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Ponce de Leon Center – one of the nation’s leading HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics. Grady also offers a Regional Perinatal Center with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and is recognized by Baby-Friendly USA as a Baby-Friendly designated birth facility. For more information, visit www.gradyhealth.org.