Flagler Adult Ed. gets grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Registration for adult English for Speakers of other Languages, ESOL, classes began Aug. 8.

The ESOL program provides English instruction for adults, age 16 or older, who are not enrolled in high school and whose first language is not English. Students develop skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening formats and include workplace, life, civics, and academic applications. To register for classes, call 446-7612.

Recently, Adult and Community Education has been awarded a one-year, $5,000 grant for the implementation of a health literacy program to benefit its New Beginnings and Adult ESOL family literacy students.

This grant, awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and the Florida Literacy Coalition will integrate health and nutrition into Flagler’s adult education curriculum. The focus is to help students acquire information and resources that will help them navigate the medical system and make informed health decisions.

New Beginnings program manager Susan Warner, who wrote the grant and designed the program, is teaming up with Vicki Stanton, who teaches family ESOL at Rymfire Elementary School.

“The support of this initiative reflects Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida’s commitment to helping adult learners, many of whom are new to this country, become informed health advocates for themselves and their families,” said Greg Smith, executive director of the Florida Literacy Coalition. “We look forward to working together with Flagler Adult Education to raise awareness about health literacy.”

According to the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy’s report on the health literacy of America’s adults, 14% of adults have below basic health literacy skills.

Low health literacy is especially prevalent among adults who did not complete high school, and Hispanic adults, who have lower health literacy than any other ethnic/racial group. The students of the ESOL and New Beginnings programs will benefit greatly by the curriculum, instruction and hands-on projects that will be funded by the health literacy grant.

For more information about the New Beginnings program contact Warner at 437-7533, Ext. 4131.