Health literacy is a person’s ability to find, understand and use information and services to help them make health-related decisions for themselves and others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health literacy has been crucial for national COVID-19 vaccination, testing and treatment efforts.

This new initiative will help local governments enhance their health literacy efforts to reduce COVID-related disparities within racial and ethnic minority populations and other vulnerable communities. Over the next two years, the City will work with local community-based partners like Edward Waters University, Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, UF Health Jacksonville, Population Health Consortium and Duval Safety Net Collaborative to develop a health literacy plan for underserved populations.

“Health and wellness of all Jacksonville citizens has been a top priority of my administration,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “I am incredibly proud that Jacksonville is one of three cities in Florida to receive this funding to reduce health disparities.”