wisconsin literacy, inc. one mission. one voice. a more literate wisconsin
TRANSCRIPT
Wisconsin Literacy, Wisconsin Literacy, Inc.Inc.
One mission. One voice.One mission. One voice.
A more literate Wisconsin.A more literate Wisconsin.
What is Wisconsin Literacy?What is Wisconsin Literacy?
A nonprofit coalition of 54 adult, family, and A nonprofit coalition of 54 adult, family, and workplace literacy providersworkplace literacy providers
Our vision is to strengthen Wisconsin’s Our vision is to strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce, families, and communities workforce, families, and communities through literacythrough literacy
How WL began Health Literacy How WL began Health Literacy Initiatives Initiatives
September 2003 – Dr. Paul Smith joins WL September 2003 – Dr. Paul Smith joins WL Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors
July 2004 – WL host first statewide Health July 2004 – WL host first statewide Health Literacy Summit – 50 attendeesLiteracy Summit – 50 attendees
October 2004 and October 2005 – WL and October 2004 and October 2005 – WL and Dr. Smith submit extensive Dr. Smith submit extensive implementation grant proposal projects implementation grant proposal projects connecting adult learners as health connecting adult learners as health literacy consultants to healthcare literacy consultants to healthcare providers (both projects were not funded)providers (both projects were not funded)
How WL began Health Literacy How WL began Health Literacy InitiativesInitiatives
2006 - WI Hospital Assoc. hosts webcast of Dr. Smith’s HL presentation to all member hospitals - more speaking requests generated
How WL Continued Health How WL Continued Health Literacy InitiativesLiteracy Initiatives
2006 - Smaller grant proposals funded for 2006 - Smaller grant proposals funded for Focus Group research within WL member Focus Group research within WL member agenciesagencies
2004-2008 - Continue promoting HL 2004-2008 - Continue promoting HL initiatives among WL member agencies initiatives among WL member agencies (i.e. networking with local hospital (i.e. networking with local hospital foundations, implementing health literacy foundations, implementing health literacy components within current curriculum, components within current curriculum, collaborations with state organizations)collaborations with state organizations)
How WL Continued Health How WL Continued Health Literacy InitiativesLiteracy Initiatives
June 2007 – WL hosts second statewide Health Literacy Summit – 230 attendees representing health care and literacy
Redesign WL website to emphasize HL
efforts – Hits to website double in one year
How WL Continued How WL Continued HealthLiteracy InitiativesHealthLiteracy Initiatives
August 2007 – WL submits planning grant to coordinate regional HL committees (Not funded - work continues anyway)
Fall 2007 – Four regional HL committees begin post-summit initiatives
2007-2008 - WL collaborates with statewide health organizations
Collaborative Partners on Collaborative Partners on Health Literacy InitiativesHealth Literacy Initiatives
State Medical Society State Hospital Association State Department of Public Health Public Health Association Health Insurance Association Nursing Association Pharmacy Association Dentist Association
Collaborative Partners on Collaborative Partners on Health Literacy InitiativesHealth Literacy Initiatives
Local Hospitals and Clinics Health Care Quality Organizations Corporations with Literacy Focus – Verizon,
Pfizer, Dollar General, etc. University and Community Technical
Colleges Health Education Centers Newspaper Association AARP
Be Careful What You Wish Be Careful What You Wish For!For!
Health Literacy initiatives can drive your Health Literacy initiatives can drive your organization when your organization’s organization when your organization’s mission should drive your initiativesmission should drive your initiatives
Have a strategic plan to guide your work in Have a strategic plan to guide your work in HL – it can take your organization in many HL – it can take your organization in many directionsdirections
Always keep in mind how your work Always keep in mind how your work benefits the adult learner benefits the adult learner
How Do You Get Health How Do You Get Health Literacy in the News?Literacy in the News?
The $ Cost of Health LiteracyThe $ Cost of Health Literacy
$106-$236 is lost every year on healthcare costs due to patients' low level of literacy skills. (University of Connecticut, Oct. 2007)
The amount of money saved if health literacy issues were addressed is enough to fund the more than 47 million uninsured Americans in 2006.
How Do You Market Health How Do You Market Health Literacy? Literacy?
Tell the storiesTell the stories
Add HL Resources to your WebsiteAdd HL Resources to your Website
Show the IOM videoShow the IOM video
Relay The Joint Commission’s emphasis on Relay The Joint Commission’s emphasis on language, literacy, culture and patient language, literacy, culture and patient safetysafety
Why Should I Develop a Why Should I Develop a Partnership with a Healthcare Partnership with a Healthcare
Organization?Organization? Hospitals have foundationsHospitals have foundations
They have fundsThey have funds
They have materialThey have material
Patient education is part of their missionPatient education is part of their mission
Your literacy program can possibly helpYour literacy program can possibly help
Why Should I Develop a Why Should I Develop a Partnership with a Healthcare Partnership with a Healthcare
Organization?Organization? Joint Commission suggest they do Joint Commission suggest they do
something about health literacysomething about health literacy
They have personnel/speakers/grant They have personnel/speakers/grant writerswriters
They also serve your learnersThey also serve your learners
They share your mission to serve othersThey share your mission to serve others
How Do I Approach Health Care How Do I Approach Health Care
Providers?Providers? If you want to work with their materials – If you want to work with their materials –
contact their Patient Education Deptcontact their Patient Education Dept..
Have your learners review the literacy Have your learners review the literacy level of their materials level of their materials
Consider collaboration on a health Consider collaboration on a health literacy proposal literacy proposal
How Do I Approach Health Care How Do I Approach Health Care
Providers?Providers?
Do you want to be a part of some of the Do you want to be a part of some of the professional development opportunities professional development opportunities they might be offering?they might be offering?
Can you help with diversity training or cultural education?
Can you provide language classes to foreign speaking employees?
One Example of a Literacy-One Example of a Literacy-Health Care Collaborative Health Care Collaborative
ProjectProject ASK ME 3: The Racine Literacy Council has used Ask Me 3 to reach not
only their own students and tutors but the public and the health care industry. By writing a grant to the Racine Community Foundation they received money to develop a DVD which teaches the Ask Me 3 program. When completed, it was given to the area hospital for use in waiting areas, in the emergency department and in doctor’s waiting rooms. It was also given to area health departments, the library, free clinics and other medical providers whose patients can benefit from the program.
The Racine Literacy Council has partnered with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints; the City of Racine Health Department; the Racine Public Library; the Health Care Network, Gateway Technical College and the Family Practice Residency Center (a part of the Medical College of Wisconsin) in advancing the health literacy agenda.
For More Information…..For More Information…..
Contact: Michele EriksonContact: Michele Erikson
Wisconsin Literacy, Inc.Wisconsin Literacy, Inc.
[email protected]@wisconsinliteracy.org
Visit: Visit: www.wisconsinliteracy.orgwww.wisconsinliteracy.org
““Literacy is a bridge from misery to Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope… the means through which hope… the means through which every man, woman and child can every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”realize his or her full potential.”
– – Kofi AnnanKofi Annan