ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 30, 2000 CONTACT: Dave Druker or CONTACT: Elizabeth Kaufman

Secretary White Announces Health Literacy Program

CHICAGO - Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced a new health information program today that helps parents who have low level reading skills understand vital information about prescriptions and doctors’ orders.

     The new program, called Health Literacy For All, will focus on reaching out to under-educated parents and their young children and help them receive accurate, easy-to- understand health information.

     "Getting health information and being able to understand it is difficult for a lot of people," Secretary White said. "Just think about how hard it is for those who have very few reading skills or who are in the process of learning English. Under-standing the information could be the difference between life and death."

     White says the Health Literacy task force he’s appointed will work with hospitals, pharmacies, medical providers and medical schools to create easy-to-read and understand pamphlets, posters and electronic information on health issues that will be available at hospitals, pharmacies, libraries and literacy programs.

     "I’m very excited about this new project," White said. "I think it will not only help those who can’t read well to understand more about medical issues, but it will make our heath care providers more aware and ready to help those who need it most."

     Task force members include representatives from Children’s Memorial Hospital, Illinois Pharmacists Association, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Hospital Association, Walgreen’s, and Osco Drugs.

     To view current Secretary of State health literacy information, go to www.library.sos.state.il.us/isl/literacy/lit_main.html. White’s office funds more than 300 literacy projects across the state with $8.4 million in state funds. For further information on these efforts, call 1-800-665-5576, press 1, then 3.