Vision
To promote clear communication between those who give and those who receive health care services.
Wisconsin Health Literacy (WHL) is a statewide organization raising awareness of the importance of health literacy and fostering better communication between health care consumers and health care providers. WHL is a division of Wisconsin Literacy, Inc., a non-profit coalition of over 70 community-based literacy programs located throughout the state. Donate to increase literacy skills statewide.
Health Literacy News
Wisconsin Literacy received a COVID-19 Community Outreach Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The goal of the project will be to address COVID-19 information, misinformation and vaccination hesitancy in 35 communities statewide.
The Health Literacy Project Manager will help provide advice, technical assistance, and leadership in planning, developing, and evaluating statewide health literacy strategies and interventions directed toward a broad audience including health and social service professionals, literacy professionals, and healthcare consumers. The Project Manager will also assist in developing and implementing fee-for-service contracts.
Go to the full position description for more information and to apply by March 19, 2021
Listen to the program broadcast where you’ll hear from:
-- one of our library partners about how our Health Online: Finding Information You Can Trust workshop impacted their community; and
-- Dr. Bethany Howlett about online information related to COVID and resources that can help you.
What is health literacy?
The Institute of Medicine defines health literacy as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic information and services needed to make appropriate decisions regarding their health."
Why is it so important?
Literacy skills are the strongest predictor of health status, more than age, income, employment status, education level or racial/ethnic group.
Health literacy was first measured on a national scale over a decade ago. The results revealed:
- Only 12 percent of Americans are proficient in health literacy and 93 million Americans 16 years or older (43 percent of the population) read at the two lowest literacy levels.
- Health literacy isn’t just an issue that affects people with limited English or low literacy skills; 88 percent of us are challenged by the health care system.
Health Literacy Services
Wisconsin Health Literacy offers training and consulting services customized to meet your organizational needs. Trainings focus on the numerous ways that health literacy impacts care delivery, health outcomes, and public health.
Medication Label
Wisconsin Health Literacy is working with a patient advisory council to design easy-to-read medication labels. Our work has impacted over 4 million prescription labels in Wisconsin.
Health Literacy Summit
The Health Literacy Summit is the largest in the Midwest.
Diverse sessions and networking opportunities provided attendees with the opportunity to learn more about health literacy.
Visit our Summit page for more information.
