Advancing health literacy in the alabama black belt - the application is being submitted to the rural community category

The project is a collaboration between five rural communities in alabama all led by black mayors who are members of the conference of black mayors. These communities, and surrounding unincorporated areas, are some of the poorest in the state. An experienced team has come together to improve health literacy in rural alabama. The team includes a historically black college in the state, stillman college located in tuscaloosa and is adjacent to the alabama black belt in west alabama. In addition, faculty with expertise in program administration, health literacy and promotion, community engagement, and program evaluation from the university of alabama are also partners. The project team, based on community needs, is directing programming toward youth and their parents. The goal is to ensure that, when available, children get vaccinated and that hard to reach younger adults (30-50 year olds) get the information they need to live healthier lives and get the covid-19 vaccine. The programming includes creating youth health councils, in-school programming, hosting health focused town halls, and health fairs in each of the five communities. This community targeted programming will educate children/teens as well as the greater community about the vaccine, healthy living (including management of blood pressure and sugar), self-advocacy in healthcare, and destigmatizing mental health and stress management. Finally, we also focus on organizational health literacy, working with local community clinics and health departments to ensure that clinicians have the necessary tools to communicate effectively with patients in the community who may have low literacy.