Snohomish County Advancing Health Literacy Project - The Snohomish County Advancing Health Literacy Project will use evidence-based health literacy strategies that are culturally appropriate to enhance COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and/or other mitigation measures (e.g., public health prevention practices and vaccination) in racial and ethnic minority populations and other socially vulnerable populations, including diverse language communities and seniors in Snohomish County. The Snohomish Health District will collaborate with Bastyr University and Edmonds College, both Minority Serving Institutions, as well as Snohomish County and Sno-Isle Libraries as key partners for this grant. Within the first 30 days, we will finalize a Memorandum of Agreement to complete all grant requirements and undertake the following six-step work plan over the two-year grant period: 1) Learning: To ensure level setting at the beginning, we will focus on internal health literacy and equity training for the project team members and organizations. Trainings will be extended to interested stakeholders throughout the grant period. 2) Assessing: Collect current COVID-19 materials in a variety of formats (print, web, radio, TV, etc.) and leverage health literacy screening tools to score materials.3) Listening: Hold focus groups with communities to gather feedback on materials and information on their needs to inform future work. We will also expand a current ?community advocate? pilot being used for COVID-19 that follows the CDC promotoras model and efforts used during 2020 Census outreach.4) Building: Utilizing information and data gathered through assessing and listening, develop a suite of culturally and linguistically appropriate materials in multiple formats. 5) Teaching: Offer learning opportunities about information gathered, tools created and best-practice strategies for increasing health literacy and enhancing public health recommendations. This may include small groups, webinars and/or a potential regional conf
erence as well as opportunities for continuing education (CE) credit where applicable. 6) Sharing: A playbook and toolkit will be developed and available online and shared with other local health jurisdictions, government agencies and stakeholders throughout Washington. This work plan will support the Healthy People 2030 objectives and will be implemented in adherence with the National CLAS Standards. We also seek to increase racial and ethnic minority populations and other socially vulnerable populations seeking testing, responding to and following through with contact tracing guidance, and following COVID-19 prevention measures. To accomplish these objectives, we will utilize goals and initial strategies laid out in the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy:Goal #1: Develop and disseminate health and safety information that is accurate, accessible, and actionable.Goal #2: Promote changes in the health care delivery system that improve health information, communication, informed decision-making, and access to health services.Goal #3: Incorporate accurate, standards-based, and developmentally appropriate health and science information and curricula in childcare and education through the university level.Goal #4: Support and expand local efforts to provide adult education, English language instruction, and culturally and linguistically appropriate health information services in the community.Goal #5: Build partnerships, develop guidance, and change policies.Goal #6: Increase basic research and the development, implementation, and evaluation of practices and interventions to improve health literacy.Goal #7: Increase the dissemination and use of evidence-based health literacy practices and interventions.Throughout the entire project, Bastyr University and Edmonds College will provide quality improvement and evaluation methods.
