1 Achieving the Vision for a Health Literate Canada Presentation by Irving Rootman at Pan-Canadian Workshop on Health Literacy May 21, 2009, Gatineau, Quebec

22 Outline Purpose and objectives of workshop A Vision for a Health Literate Canada Progress toward achieving the vision Possibilities for further action

33 Purpose of Workshop To stimulate Pan-Canadian action on health literacy

44 Workshop Objectives 1.To review progress in addressing health literacy in Canada since the release of the Expert Panel Report in To identify possibilities for further action 3. To agree on priority steps for moving forward

55 Expert Panel’s Vision for a Health Literate Canada “All people in Canada have the capacity, opportunities and support they need to obtain and use health information effectively, to act as informed partners in caring for themselves, their families and communities, and to manage interactions in a variety of settings that affect health and well-being”

66 A health literate Canada would provide: National, provincial, territorial, Aboriginal and local governments with opportunities to develop and improve health literacy throughout the life course (early childhood, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older age) Comprehensive policies and programs to reduce inequities in health literacy and health care access among Canadians Collaborative efforts by the health, social service and education systems and by the governmental, not-for-profit and private sectors to promote and facilitate health literacy A culturally-relevant and respectful approach to delivering health services and information

77 A health literate Canada would provide (cont.): Clear information about health and the operation of services and systems that affect health in a variety of languages Policies and incentives to encourage service providers and educators to facilitate health literacy in their interactions with clients, students, other community members and patients Individuals with the confidence, support and skills they need to promote and advocate for the health of themselves, their families and communities.

88 The National Health Literacy Symposium Suggested that by 2013: Canada has given itself a set of values and principles to guide its work on health literacy –Canada recognizes bi-literacy, e.g., the importance of being health literate in one’s own culture and language as well as those dominant Euro/Western systems Canada has developed a health literacy strategy and plan to build capacity –Canada has a pan-Canadian national strategy for health literacy which is multi-jurisdictional, inter-sectoral and collaborative and which has the commitment and support (including financial support) of goals/targets, (PM, Premiers, Health, Education and other Ministries)

99 As part of this strategy, Canada will have: Increased the awareness and understanding of Canadians regarding health literacy Developed and implemented a policy on health literacy Generated knowledge about health literacy Developed a wide range of tools, programs and initiatives to increase health literacy Developed the tools to measure and monitor health literacy

10 As part of this strategy, Canada has (cont): Attended to the professional development of health professionals re: health literacy Re-oriented health services to put the learner at the centre of health literacy Engaged the education system Established collaboration, communication and cooperation mechanisms

11 Progress since release of Expert Panel Report Increased awareness of health literacy among health care and literacy professionals and organizations and public (e.g. media coverage, invited presentations; events such as “In from Margins” Forum;) Increased priority given to health literacy in public health and health care (e.g. PHAC) Increased attention to health literacy curriculum development (e.g. Institute and Charter; Mental Health Literacy Curricula) Some Innovative interventions (e.g. Primary Care Collaborative) Establishment of Health Literacy Networks (e.g. Mental Health and Addictions) Development of new tools (e.g. Health Literacy Audit: School HL measure) Development of partnerships (e.g. Quebec Centre for Literacy and Hospitals) Others?

12 Some Possible Fast Horses (Quick wins) Establish a Council on Health Literacy Develop a Strategy on Health Literacy Bring attention to the issue Develop policies and guidelines on the use of plain language/visual symbols Assess the accessibility of service provision Integrate health literacy into standards and guidelines Evaluate existing initiatives

13 Possible Fast Horses (cont’d.): Research to support policy and practice development Develop programs for vulnerable populations Encourage daily reading Develop a multimedia campaign Integrate health literacy into curricula Develop benchmarks and indicators Organize Third Canadian Conference

14 Some Questions to consider What is the most important thing that we could do immediately to sustain efforts to address health literacy in Canada? What do we need to do to make sure that this gets done?