Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. One mission. One voice. A more literate Wisconsin.

What is Wisconsin Literacy? A nonprofit coalition of 54 adult, family, and workplace literacy providers A nonprofit coalition of 54 adult, family, and workplace literacy providers Our vision is to strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce, families, and communities through literacy Our vision is to strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce, families, and communities through literacy

How WL began Health Literacy Initiatives  September 2003 – Dr. Paul Smith joins WL Board of Directors  July 2004 – WL host first statewide Health Literacy Summit – 50 attendees  October 2004 and October 2005 – WL and Dr. Smith submit extensive implementation grant proposal projects connecting adult learners as health literacy consultants to healthcare providers (both projects were not funded)

How WL began Health Literacy Initiatives   WI Hospital Assoc. hosts webcast of Dr. Smith’s HL presentation to all member hospitals - more speaking requests generated

How WL Continued Health Literacy Initiatives  Smaller grant proposals funded for Focus Group research within WL member agencies Continue promoting HL initiatives among WL member agencies (i.e. networking with local hospital foundations, implementing health literacy components within current curriculum, collaborations with state organizations) Continue promoting HL initiatives among WL member agencies (i.e. networking with local hospital foundations, implementing health literacy components within current curriculum, collaborations with state organizations)

How WL Continued Health Literacy 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 HealthLiteracy 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 WL collaborates with statewide health organizations

Collaborative Partners on Health 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 Health 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 For! Health Literacy initiatives can drive your organization when your organization’s mission should drive your initiatives Health Literacy initiatives can drive your organization when your organization’s mission should drive your initiatives Have a strategic plan to guide your work in HL – it can take your organization in many directions Have a strategic plan to guide your work in HL – it can take your organization in many directions Always keep in mind how your work benefits the adult learner Always keep in mind how your work benefits the adult learner

How Do You Get Health Literacy in the News? The $ 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 Literacy? Tell the stories Tell the stories Add HL Resources to your Website Add HL Resources to your Website Show the IOM video Show the IOM video Relay The Joint Commission’s emphasis on language, literacy, culture and patient safety Relay The Joint Commission’s emphasis on language, literacy, culture and patient safety

Why Should I Develop a Partnership with a Healthcare Organization? Hospitals have foundations Hospitals have foundations They have funds They have funds They have material They have material Patient education is part of their mission Patient education is part of their mission Your literacy program can possibly help Your literacy program can possibly help

Why Should I Develop a Partnership with a Healthcare Organization? Joint Commission suggest they do something about health literacy Joint Commission suggest they do something about health literacy They have personnel/speakers/grant writers They have personnel/speakers/grant writers They also serve your learners They also serve your learners They share your mission to serve others They share your mission to serve others

How Do I Approach Health Care Providers? If you want to work with their materials – contact their Patient Education Dept. If you want to work with their materials – contact their Patient Education Dept.  Have your learners review the literacy level of their materials  Consider collaboration on a health literacy proposal

How Do I Approach Health Care Providers?  Do you want to be a part of some of the professional development opportunities 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- Health Care Collaborative Project 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….. Contact: Michele Erikson Contact: Michele Erikson Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. Visit:

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope… the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.” – Kofi Annan – Kofi Annan