National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy

Two decades of research indicate that much health information is presented in ways that are not understandable by most Americans. It is imperative that public health organizations take steps to ensure their information, products, and services are accessible and understandable. This presentation will describe the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Workgroup. The action plan is a framework with goals and strategies that organizations can use to identify their health literacy priorities and action steps. In addition to the Action Plan, CDC's health literacy web-based training and the HHS Healthfinder.gov consumer health website will be highlighted briefly as tools public health professionals can use to increase their knowledge, skills, and practice of health literacy.