Training and Coaching for Creating Easy-to-Read Health Materials for New Mexico Populations

The purpose of this project is to begin developing the health literacy skills necessary for incorporating guidelines into existing or newly developed materials, including by not limited to written publications. Through self-selection, health care professionals, community health 12s, and others who work directly with informational delivery to diverse audiences will be afforded the opportunity to participate in an introductory workshop on health literacy and developing easy-to-read text-based health information. Following the training, all participants will be given the option of engaging in a one-hour coaching session on revising an existing document. In addition, three selected individuals will work directly with the content expert receiving multiple in-depth one-on-one coaching and guidance sessions in revising an existing document. It is the intent and purpose of the project that these selected trained individuals will gain competency in applying health literacy guidelines and serve to promote and advocate for easy-to-understand health care information. In the revision process with the three selected individuals, volunteers from communities will participate in audience testing to provide feedback on the revisions. This will ensure the materials are as understandable and appropriate as possible while also providing the volunteer interviewers with training and experience necessary for conducting audience testing.