Eastern Connecticut Area Health Education Center (Eastern CT AHEC)

Health Literacy for English Language Learners

Eastern AHEC and the Even Start Family Literacy Program provide a Health Literacy Course for Women who are at or below the federal poverty level and have limited English speaking ability.

The Even Start Family Literacy Program is sponsored by Windham Public Schools. The course instructs 20-25 women in the area of health literacy providing them with the communication skills and confidence to take responsibility for their personal health care and that of their families.

Anticipated Outcomes and Results

The purpose of the Health Literacy Project is to increase the knowledge and comfort level of Hispanic women with limited English proficiency and its impact on their health literacy. Low health literacy is linked to poor health outcomes resulting from misdiagnoses, miscommunication regarding medications and other instructions, limited general knowledge of medical terms, inability to synthesis complex information, shame in reporting illiteracy and alike. The project will help to increase the participants’ confidence in their ability to communicate to health care providers, ask for help and clarification as needed, and to increase their general capacity for self-care. The context within which health literacy is occurring in the project is for those with limited English proficiency. Therefore, confidence in asking for an interpreter, knowing how to communicate through an interpreter and becoming comfortable with telephonic services in seeking intimate health care information and advice is paramount.

Health Literacy Curriculum

Each Session is an hour	Monday-Tuesday Health Education & Behavior	Wednesday-Thursday Interaction & Communication Skills
Sessions 1-8	Family Nutrition Critique lunches Visit to grocery store for comparative shopping Managing special diets Introducing kids to new foods *Review goal sheet	Observe & Practice Pre Test Role play in multiple contexts (e.g. with and without translator, ltelephonic)
Weeks 9-16	Family Physical Activity *Parents participate in outside play time Lecture on physical development Lecture on aging and activity* Parents plan weekend activities for family Review goal sheet	Observe & Practice Participant roles will vary (e.g. patient, spouse, parent) Participants and health profession students (who role-play providers) will discuss their respective experiences together. *Post Test
Weeks 16-23	Wellness & Immunizations Incorporating traditional medicine and western medicine Schedule of immunizations Write personal narrative on the concept of wellness First Aid Class *Review goal sheet	Practice & Critique * Workshop regarding techniques to feel in control of health care appointments Small group practice (three people; one observer) Observer gives feedback after the role play
Weeks 24-32	Reproductive Health How the reproductive system functions Preventing STDs & HIV Family Planning Review goal sheet	Practice & Critique Observers and participants identify the techniques used to understand the information presented during the appointment. Observers guide the role plays as they occur to improve outcomes on the spot

This Project has been funded by Liberty Bank of Willimantic, Connecticut

Each Session is an hour	Monday-Tuesday Health Education & Behavior	Wednesday-Thursday Interaction & Communication Skills
Sessions 1-8	Family Nutrition Critique lunches Visit to grocery store for comparative shopping Managing special diets Introducing kids to new foods *Review goal sheet	Observe & Practice Pre Test Role play in multiple contexts (e.g. with and without translator, ltelephonic)
Weeks 9-16	Family Physical Activity *Parents participate in outside play time Lecture on physical development Lecture on aging and activity* Parents plan weekend activities for family Review goal sheet	Observe & Practice Participant roles will vary (e.g. patient, spouse, parent) Participants and health profession students (who role-play providers) will discuss their respective experiences together. *Post Test
Weeks 16-23	Wellness & Immunizations Incorporating traditional medicine and western medicine Schedule of immunizations Write personal narrative on the concept of wellness First Aid Class *Review goal sheet	Practice & Critique * Workshop regarding techniques to feel in control of health care appointments Small group practice (three people; one observer) Observer gives feedback after the role play
Weeks 24-32	Reproductive Health How the reproductive system functions Preventing STDs & HIV Family Planning Review goal sheet	Practice & Critique Observers and participants identify the techniques used to understand the information presented during the appointment. Observers guide the role plays as they occur to improve outcomes on the spot

Health Literacy and Promotion Menu

Health Literacy for English Language Learners

Health Literacy Curriculum