The Literacy Assistance Center has built a very comprehensive health
literacy coalition. We are engaged in helping other coalitions around
the country start or improve similar initiatives. The biggest thing you
need is patience. We spent two years talking to closed doors and manning
lots of tables at health fairs until our partnership concept finally got
some traction. Some quick starting things to think about are to assess
what your coalition has to offer. Be very clear about the role you can
play with potential partners. Can you offer any training? Do you have
literacy providers lined up to work with health centers? Do you have the
manpower to spend the necessary time in the field? Another very
important factor - who are your champions? Have you identified someone
in the health community who might be willing to make introductions and
support your initiative? Finally, you must think about your resources.
How are you going to finance this?
For more info on LAC's health literacy initiative you can go to
http://lacnyc.org/profdev/healthlit/
Or feel free to email me directly at elyse at lacnyc.org. Good luck.


Elyse Barbell 
Executive Director
Literacy Assistance Center
212.803.3302

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Julie McKinney
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:02 AM
To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1865] Wednesday Question: Coalitions Challenges
andBenefits

Hi Everyone,

There are more and more health literacy coalitions forming around the
country. Some are well developed and others are just starting out. Those
who are just starting could benefit from the experience of those who
have been doing it for a while. Building coalitions takes a huge amount
of effort, time and "will". How can we help each other to smooth the
bumps and make this process more effective?

Today's question is: what advice would you give to those who are just
starting to build a health literacy coalition in their community? What
are the biggest challenges, and what helped you to get through them? 

I look forward to hearing!

All the best,
Julie

Julie McKinney
Discussion List Moderator
World Education/NCSALL
jmckinney at worlded.org

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