When Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) launched a new health literacy initiative a few years ago, health literacies specialist Rachel Palmieri began looking for accessible, evidence-based resources to help educate the community about their health. That’s when she discovered ABC Life Literacy Canada’s ABC Health Matters program.
“I was always referring my colleagues to ABC Health Matters to learn about health literacy and access the many resources, so when ABC approached us about running a workshop, we took the plunge,” says Palmieri.
Since then, VPL has delivered three ABC Health Matters workshops — “Map Out Your Health” and two sessions of “Healthy Caregiving” — across multiple locations and formats, including virtual delivery. The workshops reached caregivers, newcomers and older adults, fostering open discussions about how people can take charge of their own health and well-being.
A library-hospital partnership that supports the community
One of the workshops was held at VPL’s unique library branch located inside the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, a collaboration between Vaughan Public Libraries and the Mackenzie Health Hospital Network.
“This partnership came about a few years ago when we met with Mackenzie Health to explore how the hospital and library could work together to deliver reliable health information,” says Palmieri. “The hospital library branch offers resources to the public and also supports hospital staff, patients and caregivers.”
The “Healthy Caregiving” workshop was offered in this hospital library branch, creating a welcoming space for caregivers visiting loved ones.
“It was a small, intimate group that allowed everyone to share lived experiences. The vulnerability and peer support that came out of that session were so powerful.”
The hospital helped promote the sessions through its newsletter and on-site materials, while the library advertised through its events calendar and direct outreach by frontline staff.
Volunteer support and engaged learning
Each workshop was supported by volunteers from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, who played a valuable role in both in-person and virtual sessions. ABC Health Matters is presented with support from The Alexion Charitable Foundation.
Tania Azad, Global Program Director at Alexion, was one of those volunteers. She signed up for a workshop tailored to older adults because she believes it’s essential for people to have the knowledge to access health information when they need it.
“The program really resonated with me, especially the part about seniors,” she says. “I see my own parents struggle to find accurate health information, so supporting older adults felt meaningful and important.”
Azad was one of four Alexion employees who volunteered at the various workshops, helping participants work through their workbooks and ensuring everyone could participate. Palmieri says having the volunteers on site was very helpful.
“In the ‘Healthy Caregiving’ workshop, one volunteer shared her own lived experience and talked about how prioritizing your mental health as a caregiver is akin to putting on your own oxygen mask in an airplane before helping others. It really resonated with the group.”
That blend of lived experience, medical professional facilitation and expertly developed materials made for a meaningful learning environment.
“I really appreciated that the content was grounded in best practices,” says Palmieri. “As library staff, we can confidently deliver it knowing it was created by literacy experts.”
Azad echoes Palmieri’s sentiments regarding the curriculum.
“The workbook was so well laid out with clear language, helpful visuals and space to take notes, and the final page with all the key contact information was incredibly useful. Even if they saved just that sheet, it would help them navigate the system.”
Why health literacy matters now more than ever
Libraries have always been trusted sources of information, and their role in health literacy is increasingly vital.
“We’re living in a challenging time where there’s strain on the healthcare system and it can be hard to find a family doctor or get appointments,” Palmieri says. “Anything we can do to help prevent unnecessary ER visits and keep people healthier in the community is in everyone’s best interest.”
With millions of Canadians struggling to find a family doctor, and wait times for appointments sometimes taking weeks, many people are turning to the internet for a diagnosis.
“I understand why people turn to the internet for help, but it’s so important that they can find reliable information and advocate for their health,” says Palmieri. “As information literacy experts, we can guide people toward trustworthy resources — and through programs like ABC Health Matters, we can also teach people how to take steps to improve their own health.”
VPL hopes to run further ABC Health Matters workshops now that the library has the materials and experience to make it a regular offering. Palmieri is also exploring how to incorporate the newest ABC Health Matters workbook, ‘Managing Stress with a Rare or Chronic Disease’, into future programming.
Interested in bringing ABC Health Matters to your community?
To learn more about the free program, download free health literacy resources or to book a workshop at your organization, visit abchealthmatters.ca.
