About this Webinar

Accurate information is critical to control the spread of COVID 19. However, obtaining and understanding accurate information can be a challenge for populations of various health literacy levels which in turn can increase risk of illness. This webinar will discuss the challenges experienced by populations of various health literacy levels in obtaining important information about COVID 19 and strategies and resources on how to address the barriers and promote health equity.

Learning Objectives

After completing this webinar, you will be able to

• Describe how limited health literacy adversely affects access to accurate and reliable health information during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Apply health literacy and plain language principles to improve communication regarding COVID-19 and what to do about it
• Identify resources and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic available for use to meet the health literacy, language and culture needs of diverse communities

Subject Matter Expert

Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi

Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi is the principal of Kurtz-Rossi & Associates, a women-owned business located in Boston, Massachusetts. Her work has two major sources of inspiration. One is the adult learners she works with to integrate health and literacy education in Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) settings and the other is all the teachers, librarians, and health professionals who are dedicated to improving access to health information and health services for multi-lingual and multi-cultural communities. As a health literacy consultant, Sabrina’s areas of expertise include:

• Health literacy professional development teaching and training
• Plain language writing and editing
• Easy-to-read materials and website development
• ABE and ESOL health literacy curriculum development
• Evaluation to assess effectiveness and for program improvement

Ms. Kurt-Rossi is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Health Literacy Leadership Institute at Tufts University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University of New England where she teaches online health literacy and plain language graduate level courses.