Youth Health Literacy Challenge

The UT Health San Antonio Libraries serve as a Resource Library of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine for the South Central area of Texas. The major health concerns facing residents of South Central Texas continue to include diabetes, communicable diseases, cancer, and obesity. It is commonly accepted that health literacy rates remain low in the U.S. population at large but at even lower rates in underserved, Hispanic, and immigrant populations, which are large populations in South Central Texas. Sustainable community engagement leading to lasting collaborations with these populations is vital in order to impact health literacy rates. UT Health San Antonio Libraries is seeking funding for the Youth Health Literacy Challenge, a program aimed at promoting health literacy through NLM resources at four San Antonio Public Library SAPL branches that are feeding sites for the North East Independent School District NEISD Summer Food Service Program, or Summer Feeding Program. During the 2015-2016 school year, it was reported that 45% of NEISD students received free and reduced meals. The feeding sites were chosen based on data showing that a large portion of the student body at neighboring schools have low family income, an indication of a high risk for poor health outcomes. The Youth Health Literacy Challenge will encourage youth in grades 3-12 to seek out health information in a fun and engaging way and bring awareness to NLM resources that may influence the practice of healthy behaviors. The program will be carried out in a fashion similar to the library's popular Summer Reading Program with youth logging their activities. Youth will also receive a calendar that features NLM resources. This program has the potential to reach more than 2,200 86 as well as parents who may assist 86 participating in the program.