Virginia Adult Education Health Literacy Toolkit

About the Toolkit

The Virginia Adult Education Health Literacy Toolkit grew from many teachers' observations of adult literacy learners whose education paused or ended because a small health problem became bigger and brought on a host of other difficulties. Many adult learners, particularly those with the lowest literacy skills, are unaware of accessible health care options for the un- and underinsured and have a limited understanding of prevention of those conditions for which they are at increased risk. Those who are able to access care often do not know how to advocate for themselves in the complex, changing U.S. health care system. The spoken and written language of the U.S. health care culture seems to them beyond their reach.

This Toolkit is a resource to help adult education instructors and administrators better understand the problem of health literacy as it affects their learners. It is designed to support creative approaches to help learners increase health literacy as they engage in sound, productive adult literacy instruction. Information and resources are provided to educate the educator about health care in the United States and cultural issues relating to health, and to simplify creation of health lessons and curricula for teachers and programs.

The Toolkit is broken into the following sections:

Section A looks at definitions of health literacy from various stakeholders and proposes a more explicit definition that is helpful for the needs of adult educators and literacy learners specifically. Two glossaries are also provided as resources to educators who face the task of helping their learners understand the U.S. health care system. One glossary consists of Virginia-specific health care terminology and the other of terms used in health insurance and managed care.

Section B presents statistics and background information on health and health care among different population groups that are present in Virginia adult literacy programs. The benefits of teaching health to adult literacy learners are presented, as is a skill-by-skill breakdown of how health topics can enhance basic literacy, GED preparation, and English for Speakers of Other Languages instruction.

Section C provides extensive resources on affordable health services, potential program collaborators and funders, and extensive Web and print health teaching resources for use with adults. Where available, information is given on culturally and linguistically sensitive providers. Websites and printed material are described as to level of difficulty and suggested uses.

Section D examines the actual teaching of health. Recommendations are provided regarding teaching approaches, content ideas, curriculum design, instructional supports, and learner projects. Links are provided for existing Virginia adult health literacy curricula.

Section E is a response to the many valid concerns that teachers voice about teaching sensitive health topics. Suggestions are provided for ways to keep instruction of important health topics engaging, informative, and productive, while keeping teacher and learner discomfort to a minimum.

The Appendices also provide valuable information, including:

Health has been touched upon in adult literacy programs for many years, but materials and approaches have not kept up with learner needs in the ever-changing health care system. This Toolkit is provided to Virginia adult educators with the hope that it will make the job of addressing health literacy needs easier and more inviting to take on in adult literacy instruction. As learners continue to face health and health care challenges that stand in the way of their education and their life goals, we can help them be better able to meet and overcome the challenges.