Flagler Technical College Receives Health Literacy Grant Thanks To Florida Blue Foundation

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9/1/24

FTC Contact: Travis Thomas

Adult Education Program Supervisor, Flagler Technical College

(386) 447-4345 x1206 | thomast@flaglerschools.com

FLC Contact: Alison Bell

(407) 246-7110 x210 | BellA@FloridaLiteracy.org

FLAGLER TECHNICAL COLLEGE RECEIVES HEALTH LITERACY GRANT 

THANKS TO FLORIDA BLUE FOUNDATION

Palm Coast, FL (9/1/24) – Flagler Technical College is pleased to announce it has been awarded a one-year, $5,000 grant for the implementation of a health literacy program to benefit its Adult Education students. Select programs across the state of Florida have been awarded grants for the implementation of a health literacy program to benefit their student populations.

This grant, awarded by Florida Blue Foundation and the Florida Literacy Coalition, will integrate health and nutrition information into Flagler Technical College’s curriculum. The focus is to help students acquire the knowledge, literacy skills, and resources that will help them navigate the medical system and make informed health decisions. More than 25,800 adult learners from programs throughout Florida have benefited from this Initiative since 2009. 

There is a recognition among many health care providers and adult educators around the country that limited English language and literacy skills can have a significant impact on one’s health.  According to the National Adult Assessment of Literacy, 14 percent of Americans cannot comprehend basic health information. The study indicates that health illiteracy is especially prevalent among: 1) adults who did not complete high school, with 49 percent having below basic health literacy, and 2) foreign-born adults who speak English as their second language.

People who lack literacy and health literacy skills are much more likely to use medications incorrectly, have at least one chronic disease, spend more time in the hospital, and are four times more likely to have poor health than people with higher health literacy skills. The potential for cost savings and improved health outcomes are significant. Adult education, literacy and family literacy programs can play an important role in helping people to acquire these skills.

“At the Florida Blue Foundation, our mission is to help people and communities achieve better health,” said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation.  “By partnering with the Florida Literacy Coalition and supporting the Florida Health Literacy Grant Initiative, we are making an immediate impact to help people keep themselves and their families healthy while creating sustainable change throughout our communities.” 

The Florida Health Literacy Initiative provides training, resources and funding to assist Florida ESOL and family literacy programs to integrate health education into their instruction. The objective is to help students develop basic literacy and English language skills while gaining information to make informed choices regarding their health and nutrition.  

“We very much appreciate the Florida Blue Foundation’s ongoing support for this initiative which reflects their commitment to helping adult learners, many who are new to this country, become informed health advocates for themselves and their families,” said Greg Smith, executive director of the Florida Literacy Coalition. “We look forward to our continued partnership with Florida Blue Foundation and this year’s grant recipients to help students throughout our state achieve better health through education.”

During the 2024/2025 academic year Flagler Technical College will deliver health literacy content consisting of, but not limited to, medication safety, nutrition, and promotion of improved personal and family health. Students in FTC’s Adult General Education programs will benefit from health literacy curriculum and engaging health-related projects. In addition, this initiative will include age appropriate health activities and digitally accessible informational content for all of FTC’s AGE, CTE, and New Beginnings Daycare Center children/parents.

“We are excited to be able to continue our mission of delivering health literacy content to our student population, and we are grateful to the Florida Literacy Coalition and Florida Blue Foundation for their continued funding.” said Travis Thomas, Adult Education Program Supervisor of Flagler Technical College.

More information is available on the Florida Literacy Coalition’s website at www.floridaliteracy.org. For questions, please contact Alison Bell at bella@floridaliteracy.org.