Fresh Idea: Health Literacy for ELL Adults Lincoln Literacy Council Susan Bockrath, Program Coordinator Clay Naff, Executive Director Susan Bockrath, Program Coordinator Clay Naff, Executive Director

Lincoln Literacy Council … assist people of all cultures and strengthen our community by teaching English language and literacy skills.  ELL and Basic Programs  One-one tutor matches  Groups  Health Literacy … assist people of all cultures and strengthen our community by teaching English language and literacy skills.  ELL and Basic Programs  One-one tutor matches  Groups  Health Literacy

LLC’s RWJF Funded Health Literacy Program  12 week sessions  All women students so far  Students share common first language  Sudanese Arabic, Nuer, Spanish  Bilingual health education and  English instruction with LLC trained tutors  Focus on topics covered during health education  Clinic partners provide screenings and referrals  12 week sessions  All women students so far  Students share common first language  Sudanese Arabic, Nuer, Spanish  Bilingual health education and  English instruction with LLC trained tutors  Focus on topics covered during health education  Clinic partners provide screenings and referrals

Reconciling Goals Literacy  Listening  Speaking  Reading  Writing Literacy  Listening  Speaking  Reading  Writing Health Literacy  Improving health status  Basic knowledge  Communication skills  Placing in Medical home  Wise use of healthcare $  Insurance options  ER use Health Literacy  Improving health status  Basic knowledge  Communication skills  Placing in Medical home  Wise use of healthcare $  Insurance options  ER use Health Literacy: The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions… – Healthy People 2010

77 women improve health literacy  Improve active recall of anatomy terms  Improve description of basic symptoms  Medical and dental screenings (n=40+)  Follow-up completed by all  Medical record vs. medical history 77 women improve health literacy  Improve active recall of anatomy terms  Improve description of basic symptoms  Medical and dental screenings (n=40+)  Follow-up completed by all  Medical record vs. medical history

Even fresher ideas… What we’ve learned so far  Less is more  Fewer topics allow for more repetition  More is more  Tutors need a range of language activities related to each content objective  Supportive service capacities & needs differ  Case management  Health mentors  Tutors benefit from content too  Tools available to assess health literacy miss the mark with ELL adults  Less is more  Fewer topics allow for more repetition  More is more  Tutors need a range of language activities related to each content objective  Supportive service capacities & needs differ  Case management  Health mentors  Tutors benefit from content too  Tools available to assess health literacy miss the mark with ELL adults