 Community Action will be training 100 Head Start parents on
Saturday. Any organization or individuals who would like to partner
with the agency in this health care initiative should call Beth
Fleshman, Head Start director, at 217-732-2159, ext. 249. Donations
of goods or services would be greatly appreciated as Community
Action works toward improving the health literacy of the Head Start
families.
Project goals are to provide information and training to
parents, enable parents to become better caregivers by improving
health care knowledge and skills, empower parents' decision-making
regarding health care, and contribute to reducing escalating health
care costs. The project covers a two-year period in which 100
families will be trained and supported by Community Action Head
Start staff.
The
"I Can" health literacy project began in 2001 in Missouri, and
over 10,000 families have been trained in 38 states. Research data
has shown a dramatic impact on families as parents receive
information and training regarding health care for their children.
Missed workdays for parents show a decrease of 42 percent. Also,
data shows that missed days of school for children decreased by 29
percent. A dramatic drop of 58 percent in unnecessary trips to the
emergency room, coupled with a 43 percent drop in unnecessary trips
to the doctor's office, translates into a cost savings per family
per year of $554.72.
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Fleshman commented: "We are eager to provide this health literacy
training to our parents. The benefits the 'I Can' project has
demonstrated since the initial 2001 pilot project began are
immeasurable as the self-sufficiency of parents in this critical
area is enhanced."
Community Action serves the low-income and senior
populations of six central Illinois counties. For more information,
visit www.capcil.org.
[Text from file received from
Community Action Partnership of
Central Illinois]
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