Community Health Workshop: Promoting Healthy Communities by Increasing Knowledge

The Community Health Workshop project seeks to utilize and build on the role of community spaces such as libraries, senior centers, and community centers to facilitate access to knowledge and promote action amongst the underrepresented and underserved in Tarrant County, specifically the Hispanic and African American populations. The proposed project introduces community members to reliable consumer health information from the National Library of Medicine. Workshops will be offered in English or Spanish and is supported by 131s in Tarrant County and from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The overarching objectives of the program are to 1 increase access to knowledge - by increasing awareness of resources such as MedlinePlus.gov, 2 develop health literacy - by developing the skill to evaluate health resources online and 3 foster participation - by having open conversations about health concerns culminating in small health projects designed by the participants. The objective of the project is to empower individuals to explore health information confidently and be motivated to promote community health to others, as understanding is the greatest motivator for action.