This month is Health Literacy Month and is the perfect time to raise awareness about why health literacy matters and what we at Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) are doing to improve health literacy in our county.
What is Health Literacy?
Before we jump in, let’s talk about what health literacy means. Health literacy is the degree to which someone has the ability to find, understand and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions. Organizations such as healthcare facilities or community-based agencies also have degrees of health literacy – meaning their enabling of individuals to find, understand and use information to inform health-related decisions and actions.
88% of adults in the US lack the health literacy skills needed to navigate the healthcare system; it is important for all of us to address health literacy when we communicate to people.
Franklin County Advances Health Literacy
FCPH is one of four public health community partners who have teamed up to create the Advancing Health Literacy Franklin County (AHLFC) initiative. Partners who make up AHLFC include FCPH, Columbus Public Health, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and University of Hawaii. We are driven to change health literacy – for the better – through a community health literacy plan.
Health Literacy and AHLFC: Q&A Leadership Spotlight
We sat down with our very own Alexandria Jones, Assistant Health Commissioner and Director of Prevention & Wellness at FCPH, to best explain the initiatives happening in Franklin County to address health literacy.
Talk a little about health literacy. How do you describe it to others?
Health literacy is making sure that individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use the information that is needed for them to make informed decisions regarding their or their families health. While this seems simple, health literacy is not a one size fits all approach. Often the burden is put on the individual to decipher what their healthcare provider or practitioner is telling them. This can lead to embarrassment or uncertainty for clients which ultimately results in poor health outcomes.
What are some things that people don’t know about health literacy and how it affects our entire community?
One big misconception is that health literacy can be achieved in whole with the use of interpreters and the translation of materials for those who are non-English speaking or English as a second language. Access to certified medical interpreters is certainly a part of health literacy, but there are many different components that make up health literacy. For example, it is great to have materials that are translated in different languages, but if the materials are not reader friendly or are full of medical jargon then having them translated is not beneficial.
How did Advancing Health Literacy Franklin County (AHLFC) come together? What is it?
AHLFC is a collaborative effort between FCPH, Columbus Public Health, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and University of Hawaii with the primary goal of embedding health literacy at the community organization level. This means working with community partners and organizations around Franklin County to better equip and train them in health literacy. AHLFC offers trainings and presentations on topics like digital health literacy, CLAS/Cultural Competency and plain language. We train “champions” in the community who can then, in turn, train others in their organizations on introductory health literacy. Additionally, we’re very excited to launch our health literacy website – a one stop shop for all kinds of health literacy training and resources available free of charge to organizations throughout Franklin County.
What are you most excited about as a team member and leader of AHLFC?
I’m most excited about the systemic and institutional changes we’re making as AHLFC. We know that the disparities that have existed for a long time were illuminated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Without intentional change to our health care and public health systems these disparities will continue to be pervasive. With healthcare, public health and community-based organizations committed to learning, practicing and ultimately embedding health literacy policy and practice, we have the opportunity to make long-lasting changes in the health of our community.
How can people get involved?
Organizations, community partners, healthcare professionals or any resident of Franklin County can get involved! We encourage you to email healthliteracy@franklincountyohio.gov and someone from our leadership team will be in touch as soon as possible to connect with you and your organization.
Advancing Health Literacy Franklin County (AHLFC) is a group of public health community partners who band together with a commitment to improve health literacy in Franklin County. We aim to empower partners and community organizations – and those who they serve – through trainings, resources and so much more. Visit AdvancingHL.org to learn more or get involved.
AHLFC is supported by the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3,990,000 with 100 percent funded by OMH/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OMH/OASH/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov.