A Stroke of a Pen Raises Health Literacy Awareness

By: Genelle Lamont, Ph.D., M.P.H.

In 2022, I hopped on a virtual call with the late Alisha Odhiambo, founder and chair of the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership (MNHLP) to brainstorm new ways to expand health literacy awareness. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had co-hosted two statewide conferences with the Minnesota Department of Health to train public health and healthcare professionals. Now our goal was to advocate for system-level changes and engage policymakers. Inspired by Helen Osborne’s Health Literacy Out Loud podcast and Health Literacy Month Handbook, we realized proclamations could be a simple yet powerful tool for collective action. A governor’s proclamation raises visibility, sparks conversation, and builds momentum around critical policy issues. At the time, only six states had officially recognized October as Health Literacy Month. We decided Minnesota should be next.

Drawing from existing examples and input from our partners, we drafted a proclamation with Minnesota-specific information and submitted it to the Governor’s Office. To our delight, the first Health Literacy Month Proclamation was issued in 2022—followed by subsequently acquired proclamations in 2023 and 2024.

We didn’t stop there. Each proclamation was paired with a major event to amplify impact:

• 2022: MNHLP co-hosted a statewide policy conference with the University of Minnesota Medical School, attended by 175 professionals across health, education, and government. Conversations at this event led to partnering with members of the Health Literacy Regional Network on the State Health Literacy Proclamation Toolkit, a step-by-step guide for organizations across the United States.

• 2023: We convened a national planning committee to host the U.S. Health Literacy Policy & Press Event, attracting 350 participants from 26 states including media coverage from KIMT News 3. This event inspired the creation of the U.S. Health Literacy Association.

• 2024: To honor Alisha’s legacy, MNHLP established the Alisha Odhiambo Health Literacy Scholarship, funded by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota. At the launch event, Commissioner of Health, Dr. Brooke Cunningham, presented Minnesota’s third proclamation.

Tips for Pursing a State Health Literacy Proclamation:

1. Set your intention. Define your goals, audience, and timeline. A proclamation builds awareness, but lasting change may require a resolution or law.

2. Keep it simple. Stick to one page with a brief title, 3-5 concise whereas statements, and references. Incorporate a definition of health literacy, pertinent statistics, impact, healthcare costs, name any relevant state authoritative organizations, and acknowledge national and international recognition of October as Health Literacy Month. Cite only credible, peer-reviewed sources. Expect and plan for revisions by the Governor’s Office.

3. Submit early. Most states require submission of an online form 20-30 business days in advance (some as early as six months). Proposals must come from organizations, as individuals and business entities are usually not permitted to submit a proclamation. Seek a contact person(s) within the Governor’s Office who can help you to troubleshoot issues and coordinate the proclamation with speaking engagements and events.

4. Promote and build momentum. Announce proclamations alongside conferences, campaigns, or award ceremonies to maximize visibility. Collaborating with well-aligned organizations can expand reach and support.

5. Take action! Resources such as the Health Literacy Month Handbook and the State Health Literacy Proclamation Toolkit can help you get started and connect with others.

Proclamations may only be a piece of paper, but they can open doors, start conversations, and inspire collective action. With passionate advocates, committed leaders, and a clear vision, we can create a culture where health information is accessible to all.

Happy Health Literacy Month!

About the Author:

Genelle Lamont, Ph.D., M.P.H. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, at the University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS), Duluth campus and co-chair of the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership, a health literacy professional organization and sponsored program of Literacy Minnesota focused on training providers and other healthcare professionals in clear patient communications and advocating for statewide health literacy initiatives. Her research with the UMMS Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team centers on the epidemiology and public health surveillance of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias in rural and American Indian populations. Additionally, her work seeks to understand system-level changes and policies that can positively impact healthy aging, dementia prevention, and patient and workforce health literacy.

#IHABlog

#HealthLiteracyMonth