Health Literacy Game-Changers for Health Equity Champions

Health Literacy (a 2030 Health People Priority Area): Health literacy empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed health decisions, leading to better health outcomes and the prevention of chronic diseases. It also helps organizations support individuals better. By addressing health literacy, SOPHE can help promote the reduction of health disparities and champion health equity, particularly for marginalized and underserved populations. Enhanced health literacy contributes to health care savings by lowering costs through reduced emergency services, hospitalization rates and improved chronic disease management. Ultimately, a focus on health literacy is a focus on effective public health communication and preparedness for health crises, fostering a more informed and health-conscious society.

Join us for a look at the Rockford Ready Health Literacy Initiative, a community-focused health education program aimed at improving health literacy and in the underserved communities of Rockford, Illinois. This session will delve into how strategic communications, community engagement, and educational initiatives have promoted health equity, focusing on Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx populations. Learn how health literacy can be a powerful tool for public health professionals and educators across the nation to address health disparities, promote positive patient-provider relationships, and foster trust in public health recommendations. Through case studies, practical tools, and actionable insights, you’ll leave equipped to replicate similar efforts in your own community.

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Define health literacy and its role in advancing health equity.

1. Understand how health literacy strategies can be embedded in community-wide strategic communication to promote health equity.
2. Review best practices in fostering community-based health literacy programs.
3. Recognize the impact of health literacy campaigns on target audiences.
4. Apply lessons learned from Rockford Ready to your local health literacy efforts.

HESPA II Competencies:

1.3.2: Determine the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills, and behaviors that impact the health and health literacy of the priority population(s).

2.4.1: Develop an implementation plan inclusive of logic model, work plan, responsible parties, timeline, marketing, and communication.

3.2.4 Deliver health education and promotion as designed.

4.4.7: Develop recommendations based on findings

Application for CHES® (entry-level)/MCHES® (advanced-level) Category I continuing education contact hours (CECH) is pending. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. has approved SOPHE and its chapters as designated multiple-event providers of CECHs in health education. SOPHE is a provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) Renewal Credits. An application is pending to award CPH Renewal credits on behalf of the National Board of Public Health Examiners.