February 12, 2008

 

News and Notes from the National Institute for Literacy

 


Dr. Sandra L. Baxter, Director


 


 


WHAT'S NEW AT THE INSTITUTE


 

 

*           LINCS Regional Resource Center to Convene Three Health Literacy
Summits: 

The National Institute for Literacy through its LINCS Regional Resource
Centers is convening adult literacy practitioners and healthcare providers
in three locations in February and March to share information about the
research on health literacy and resources for implementing health literacy
programming. 

Health literacy is often defined as the ability to read, understand, and act
upon health-related information. Understanding and creating awareness about
health literacy may improve the health status and quality of life of
America's adults, especially those with marginal literacy skills. The
National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) reported the extent of low
health literacy in The Health Literacy of America's Adults: Results from the
2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. According to the NAAL, about 22
percent of adults had Basic health literacy skills and 14 percent had Below
Basic health literacy skills.

The LINCS health summits will share information on the state of health
literacy in the nation and address how partnerships among adult literacy and
healthcare providers can help eliminate literacy barriers in accessing
quality health care. Summit dates and locations:  February 28 in San
Francisco; March 5 in Atlanta; and March 25-26 in Indianapolis, IN.

For contact information and registration, please visit:
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/news_events/02-08-08.html 

 

_____________________________________

 

*                     Institute to Convene Final Meeting of Adult Literacy
Research 

            Working Group: 

 

The Adult Literacy Research Working Group will meet at the Institute on
Friday, Feb. 15 to wrap up its work and to discuss its major deliverable, an
update on the Institute's earlier literature review on adult reading. The
literature review will be peer reviewed and submitted to the Institute's
Interagency Group prior to release. 

 

As you may recall, the Institute convened the Working Group under the
auspices of Institute contractor, Dr. John Kruidenier, who developed a
report on scientifically-based research in adult reading.  This research has
served as the basis for much of the Institute's work in the area of adult
reading and has informed the development of the Office of Vocational and
Adult Education's Student Achievement in Reading program or STAR.

 

_____________________________________

 

*                     Highlights of January Advisory Board Meeting:   

 

Strategic Direction: Board members devoted much of its scheduled two-day
meeting in Washington, DC on January 30 and 31 to a review and discussion of
the Institute's draft Strategic Directions Plan. The document, which is not
intended to be a detailed operations plan, explores the strategic direction
of the Institute over the next several years as well as the underpinnings
that will inform the prioritization of the agency's work. 

 

Literacy in Post-Katrina New Orleans: Restoring literacy programs and
post-Katrina workforce priorities were the focus of presentations by Dr.
Petrice Sams-Abiodun, director of the Lindy Boggs National Center for
Community Literacy, at Loyola University in New Orleans; and Dr. Michael
Cowan, special assistant to the president of Loyola and a member of the
Boggs Center Board. Drs. Sams-Abiodun and Cowan shared sobering literacy
statistics and the need for coordination and funding to re-build the
capacity of adult education and workforce programs in the New Orleans Parish
and in the region. To learn more about the Boggs Center, visit: 
www.boggslit.org <http://www.boggslit.org/> 

 

_____________________________________

 

*                     NCL Members Hear from Institute Director:   

Dr. Sandra L. Baxter provided an update on the Institute's many projects and
activities during the National Coalition for Literacy's (NCL) February 7
membership meeting in Washington, DC. The mission of the NCL (
www.national-coalition-literacy.org
<http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/> ) is to advance adult
education, English language learning, and literacy in the U.S. 

 

____________________________________________________________________________
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