Central Nebraska Community Services
Health Literacy Initiative
CENTRAL NEBRASKA COMMUNITY SERVICES
HELPING PEOPLE &CHANGING LIVES SINCE 1965
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Community Action Agency – one of 9 in Nebraska
1,100 Agencies Nationally
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The CNCS service area includes 21 Counties in
Central and North Central Nebraska
• CNCS serves over
12,000 people
annually
• 4 Service Delivery
Departments
• 220+ Employees
Blaine, Boone, Boyd, Brown, Colfax,
Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton,
Holt, Howard, Keya Paha, Loup,
Merrick, Nance, Platte, Rock, Sherman,
Valley and Wheeler
A HEAD START ON HEALTH LITERACY
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Health literacy efforts in our agency began in the
CNCS Early Childhood Programs Department
In the beginning, Head Start and Early Head Start
families participated in the program
Before starting – CNCS staff attended initial
training provided through Johnson & Johnson in
California
We weren’t the first one’s to start this initiative in
Nebraska. Other’s took the first steps…
HEAD START AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON
PARTNER WITH RESEARCHERS AT
UCLA ANDERSON IN GROUNDBREAKING STUDY
January,2003 Results Report
A pilot study conducted by researchers at UCLA
Anderson School of Management.
 Head Start parents receive convenient, easy-tounderstand health care information .
 Head Start families who participated in the health care
training program reported a 37 percent drop in visits to
health care providers and a 48 percent decrease in
emergency room visits in the six months following the
training.
 Head Start Child and Family Development Program
Inc., participated in the pilot in Nebraska.
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(Central Office: 123 Marion Rd., Hastings, NE / Deb Ross, Executive Director)
PROJECT OBJECTIVE:
To improve the capacity of program participants
to obtain, process and understand
basic health information and
access services needed to make
appropriate health decisions for
themselves and the children in their care.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA COMMUNITY SERVICES
PROGRAMS AND HEALTH LITERACY EFFORTS:
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CNCS conducted a community needs assessment that
identified Health Literacy as a concern within all 21
service area counties.
CNCS Health Services Advisory
HSA: Consisting of area medical professionals
Program staff who work directly with individuals and
families expressed a need for literature
Program participants were identified as being at risk in
regards to health literacy.
THE INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE ADVANCEMENT
BOOK SERIES
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IHA has developed a “What to Do for Health” book series
written in a 3rd-5th grade reading level.
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The books are available in multiple languages and several
health topics are available.
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CNCS uses the following in program delivery:
• What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick
• What To Do For Healthy Teeth
• What To Do When Your Having a Baby
• What To Do For Teen Health
These 2
books are
used most
often in
our
programs
www.iha4health.org
PROGRAM DELIVERY
 Program-staff share
IHA health literacy materials during home
visitation, parent meetings, and case
management sessions.
 A 1 Page Overview developed by a CNCS
nurse is included.
 CNCS results mirror the national statistics in
using IHA materials.
 Pre and post survey results reveal a 78%
reduction in unnecessary Hospital Emergency
Room and Doctor Office visits.
 Parents feel more confident in their ability to
care for their sick child.
#1 QUESTION
HOW DOES CNCS PAY FOR IHA BOOKS?
Nonprofit Grant
Book Program Application
Snapshot from the application:
TRAIN THE TRAINER
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UCLA , Johnson & Johnson and the Health Care Institute
provide excellent training
The Nebraska Head Start Association Sponsored a Train-the
Trainer workshop in Grand Island in November 2012.
Model : 2 Day Train-the-Trainer
Objective: Team health training on complete Health Care
Institute (HCI) model and specific health topics from the HCI
curriculum
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Head Start Grantees across the state participated.
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CNCS nursing coordinators completed the training
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Extra bonus – now we are able to purchase ALL IHA books at
the reduced cost of $5 each
WILL CNCS CONTINUE TO
USE IHA MATERIALS?
YES!
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Despite funding reductions due to
sequestration CNCS continues to make
Health Literacy a priority
We use a “whole-child” approach.
Healthy children are ready to learn
Confident parents provide better care
Healthy communities thrive
LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE
HEALTH LITERACY FOR PARENTS HAS LASTING OUTCOMES
(IHA)
Parents
Health
Literacy
Child
Health
Life
Experience
Culture
Community
Prenatal
Infant
Enhanced
School
Readiness &
Performance
Child
Improved
Health
Literacy
for
Children
& Youth
Adolescent
2nd
Generation
Improved
Health
Literacy as
Parents
Children
become
Adults/Parents
“IMPROVING HEALTH LITERACY IS THE KEY TO THE
SUCCESS OF OUR NATIONAL HEALTH AGENDA”
DR. KOH, NATIONAL ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE HEALTH LITERACY,
FORWARD, 2010
Health Literacy is an important part of all
CNCS service delivery programs
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Early Childhood Programs
Health & Nutrition Programs
Family Outreach Case Management
Housing Programs
“EMPOWERING PARENTS, BENEFITTING CHILDREN, CREATING
STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES”
HEALTH CARE INSTITUTE
CNCS Mission Statement:
Partnering with Individuals and families to end poverty
through community based solutions
THANK YOU!
Central Nebraska Community Services
626 N Street / PO Box 509
Loup City, NE 68853
308-745-0780
www.welcome2cncs.com
questions@cennecs.org
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Executive Director: Jose Zapata
Human Resource Director /Deputy Director: Scott Jensen
Fiscal Department Director: Donna Obermiller
Early Childhood Programs Department Director: Suzan Obermiller
Health & Nutrition Department Director: Kerry Hansel
Family Outreach Department Director: Cheryl Holcomb
Community Economic Development Department Director: Judy Hughes
CNCS Presenter:
Laura Hilty
Resource Development Specialist
lhilty@cennecs.org