The ability to understand and use health information can have a broad impact on the health and well-being of people in rural communities. Nearly half of North and South Dakota residents live in rural areas, which emphasizes the importance of making healthcare accessible and understandable for those we serve.
People with adequate levels of health literacy are better able to understand their health concerns and diagnoses as well as any treatment information. Organizations that focus on improving health literacy help people better understand and use health information and in turn make it easier for people to interact with the healthcare system.
The Rural Health Information Hub has created a toolkit to help reach these communities to help better understand their available healthcare.
This toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing programs to improve health literacy. There are 7 modules in the toolkit focused on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural health literacy programs.
- Module 1: Introduction
Overview of health literacy in the U.S. and unique challenges that rural communities face. - Module 2: Program Models
Promising approaches and models for health literacy programs. - Module 3: Program Clearinghouse
Examples of promising health literacy programs that have been implemented in rural communities. - Module 4: Implementation
Important issues to consider and address when implementing a rural health literacy program. - Module 5: Evaluation
Tools to help with the evaluation of a health literacy program. - Module 6: Funding & Sustainability
Resources to help with planning for the sustainability of a health literacy program. - Module 7: Dissemination
Ideas and resources for disseminating findings from a health literacy program.
Access the Rural Community Health Toolkit provides rural communities with the information, resources, and materials they need to develop a community health program in a rural community.