Dr. Ruth Parker is Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is nationally recognized for her efforts in health literacy research, education, and health policy.

Dr. Parker’s accomplishments are many, including helping to develop the TOFHLA (Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults) and co-writing the health literacy definition included in many publications and initiatives including the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as “Health Care Reform”).

One best practice for improving health literacy is to use plain language. Plainlanguage.gov describes plain language as "communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it". Written material is in plain language if your audience can:

The African & American Friendship Association for Cooperation and Development, Inc., in partnership with Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment, Inc. and International Institute of Minnesota, Inc., has been awarded a grant of $200,000 for one year from the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health to implement a project under the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative.

The Health Literacy Program for Minnesota Seniors (HeLP MN Seniors) hosted a wonderful celebration yesterday at Boutwells Landing Senior Living in Oak Park Heights, MN.  Attendees at the event represented public health, health care, health literacy, medical library, and health education leaders, as well as participants from the pilot workshops.  The HeLP MN Seniors team provided an overview of the program and also some demonstrations of workshop highlights.