In Minnesota, we too are working to collaborate with adult literacy 
programs.  In 2006 we formed the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership as 
a program of the Minnesota Literacy Council (MLC).  We strongly believe 
that understanding the key aspects of adult education will enhance the 
work we do to promote health literacy and educate health care consumers 
about their health. 

To learn more about the Partnership you can visit our website 
http://healthlit.themlc.org.  You may also visit MLC's website 
www.themlc.org to learn more about their work in Minnesota.

Alisha Ellwood, MA, LAMFT
Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership chair
Project Manager, Health Care Improvement Department
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Phone:  651-662-0986
Fax: 651-662-0718
E-mail: alisha_ellwood at bluecrossmn.com
Health Care Improvement makes a healthy difference in people's lives 
through improving processes and outcomes and by enhancing relationships.




"Brach, Cindy (AHRQ)" <Cindy.Brach at ahrq.hhs.gov> 
Sent by: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
12/11/2007 01:28 PM
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Subject
[HealthLiteracy 1578] Ideas for collaboration between adult literacy and 
health communities






Last week I attended the National Coalition for Literacy's policy forum, 
"Health Literacy: Dual Problem, Dual Solution."  Unfortunately, I had to 
leave before the breakout groups that brainstormed ideas for collaboration 
between the adult literacy and health communities met. I thought I would 
use this listserv to profile a couple of examples of successful 
collaboration.
In Iowa there is a four-year collaboration between the Iowa Health System 
and the New Readers of Iowa. I had the privilege to attend their joint 
conference last spring (
http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/The_Iowa_New_Readers_of_Iowa_Coalition_Conference:_Building_Health_Literacy_Leaders
). New Readers shared experiences about what it was like for them when 
they accessed the health system. New Readers also reported the ease of 
way-finding when they conducted a facility walk-through. Health 
professionals participating in a Health Literacy Collaborative described 
getting input from New Readers when simplifying their informed consent 
forms. Pharmacy students conducted brown bag medication reviews for New 
Readers. Health Professionals practiced health communication skills with 
New Readers in role playing exercises (e.g., giving patient discharge 
instructions). Mary Ann Abrams (Iowa Health System) and Archie Willard 
(New Readers of Iowa) deserve a huge amount of credit for their joint 
undertakings. 
In New York City community-based literacy programs and health providers 
have created health literacy partnerships. Elyse Barbell Rudolph, of NY's 
Literacy Assistance Center, is one of the powerful forces behind this 
collaboration. The literacy programs implemented Rima Rudd's Health 
Literacy Study Circles (www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/curricula.html
), resulting in 20% of class time being devoted to health literacy topics. 
Health educators and administrators visited classes, and hosted field 
trips to facilities. Health providers also educated their staff about 
health literacy. A speaker at the NCL policy forum (was it Dr. Lynn 
Nielsen??) mentioned research indicating that adult learners who study 
health topics learn faster than those studying other topics.
I hope those working on the local level will take inspiration from these 
examples and share some of their own. 
Cindy Brach 
Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 
540 Gaither Road 
Rockville, MD  20850 
phone: 301-427-1444 
fax: (301) 427-1430 
Cindy.Brach at ahrq.hhs.gov 
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