Resources for Your Health Literacy Journey

Many people have been contacting me lately, sharing excitement about their new interest in health literacy. Many also ask about resources and links to get started. Beyond mentioning my own articles, podcasts, tips, e-newsletters, and other resources, I share some of my favorites books, programs, and blogs.

While not meant as a comprehensive list, here are some resources I often recommend no matter where people are along their health literacy journey.

Overall references:

Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills, Second Edition (1996) by Doak C, Doak L, and Root J. J.B.Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. Most people consider this book a must-have health literacy reference. Available for free online at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/resources/doak-book/index.html
Harvard School of Public Health, Health Literacy Studies. Includes a lot of important information about health literacy research, policy, and practice. Available at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/index.html
National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This comprehensive roadmap to improve health literacy is useful to everyone -- no matter your profession or sphere of influence. Available at http://www.health.gov/communication/HLActionPlan

Online training programs:

Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals. Free web-based training from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Available at http://www2a.cdc.gov/TCEOnline/registration/detailpage.asp?res_id=2074
Unified Health Communication (UHC): Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency. Free online training program from HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration). Available at http://www.hrsa.gov/publichealth/healthliteracy/

Listservs, blogs, online newsletters:

NIFL-Health (a health literacy discussion list from the National Institute for Literacy). Exchange ideas with fellow health literacy advocates. I recommend subscribing as well as searching the archives, http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Healthliteracy/
Bringing Health Information to the Community (BHIC). This excellent blog from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region brings health literacy and related news (including grant opportunities) to your inbox each day. Here’s the link, http://nnlm.gov/mcr/bhic/
Health Literacy Missouri Plain Talk blog (coming October 1, I’ll be the blogger). Meanwhile, check out all the other great Health Literacy Missouri resources at http://www.healthliteracymissouri.org

Resources from Health Literacy Consulting:

Articles. Helen Osborne has authored about 100 health literacy how-to articles. You can find a listing organized by topic at http://healthliteracy.com/articles_by_topic.asp
How-To Tips. Monthly tips of what you can do today to improve health literacy. Available at http://healthliteracy.com/tips.asp
Podcasts. Audio interviews with those “in-the-know” about health literacy. Available at www.healthliteracyoutloud.com
Health Literacy Month stories. Why does health literacy matter? This remarkable collection of first-person narratives is intended to inspire you and others to take action. Here’s a link, http://healthliteracy.com/hlmonth_stories.asp
E-Newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest Health Literacy Consulting articles, tips, podcasts, and other news. Available for free at http://healthliteracy.com/newsletter.asp
Find more health literacy help at www.healthliteracy.com

For permission to include Health Literacy Consulting Tips in your organization's newsletter, please contact Helen Osborne by e-mail at: helen@healthliteracy.com, or by phone at: 508-653-1199.