Health Literacy

Steps to Developing an Organizational Plan

Overview

Every organization involved in health information and services needs its own health literacy plan. Without an action plan, organizational improvements to address health literacy will likely be uncoordinated and not sustainable. Everyone has limited time and resources, and having a plan helps you know what to do first. The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has a sample action plan you can use to help write a plan for your organization.

Where Do I Begin?

Improving health literacy requires changes in organizational and professional practices. It is imperative health organizations take steps to ensure information, products, and services are accessible and understandable. However, it is essential that those steps are coordinated and strategic to improve health literacy. The National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy [PDF - 666KB] is a helpful framework and model to change organizational and professional practices. CDC also has a workbook to walk you through the planning process [PDF - 738KB].