Health Literacy Resources
Studies have shown that patients with inadequate literacy have less health-related knowledge, receive less preventive care, have poorer control of their chronic illnesses and are hospitalized more frequently than other patients. When families understand health information, they can make good health choices. The resources below can help you learn more about the importance of health literacy and begin to take action to make health information easier to understand and act on.
- "What To Do For Health" book series - Easy-to-read, plain language books to help with health problems, wellness tips and guidance on topics such as parenting your teens and caring for an elderly loved one.
- Health Literacy Month - For more than 20 years, October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month - a time when hospitals, health centers, literacy programs, libraries, social service agencies, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, consumer alliances, and many other groups can work collaboratively to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy.
- Health Literacy Month Handbook - A guide to plan you own health literacy event.
- ODL Health Literacy Fact Sheet - Learn why health literacy is important.
- Healthy Family Habits - Online resources and ideas for families seeking to extend healthy habits into their homes.
- Health Literacy in Oklahoma - Examples of local health literacy activities in Oklahoma.
- Health Literacy Online - A research-based guide to help develop intuitive health websites and digital tools that can be easily accessed and understood by all users.
- Health.gov Health Literacy Resources - Resources to learn more about health literacy and communication.
COVID Resources
During the pandemic everyone has different needs. Here are a variety of resources for Oklahomans to find assistance, services and information related to the COVID-19 virus.
- Oklahoma Coronavirus Info - Oklahoma State Department of Health provides resource for Oklahomans to find services and information related to the COVID-19 virus
- OKC County Health Mental Health Resources - The OKC-County Health Department provides mental health resources.
- The Community Action Agency of provides services for senior citizens, the homeless populace, and neighborhood needs to promote the self-sufficiency of individuals and our communities.
- Community CARES Partners (CCP) is a public / private supported resource center that seeks to positively impact Oklahoma City Metropolitan residents by offering individual and family assistance to those who are facing housing crisis and eviction due to loss of wages or hardship related to COVID.
- Need Help Paying Bills OKC rental Assistance - Several non-profits, government programs, churches, and charities in Oklahoma County focus on offering rental assistance as well as low income housing to the less fortunate and needy in the community.
- OK Center for Nonprofits Pandemic Info - The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits provides tools and information benefiting nonprofits during the pandemic.
2020 Literacy Status Report
The Oklahoma City Literacy Status Report is an update of a 2008 report titled The Status of Literacy in Oklahoma City and the Community Plan to Raise Literacy Levels. This report reviews indicators that compare data from 2007 and 2017.
Improved literacy rates are key to ending the cycle of generational poverty. By gathering birth to adult literacy data for the OKC metro area in one place, the OKC Metro Literacy Coalition facilitates strategic planning to reach educational goals set at the local and state levels.