"The Conference was excellent. Speakers dynamic. Feel energized and ready to go. Could have stayed another day!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I want to thank you for such a wonderful workshop. The lessons were well-taught; the environment was beautiful and relaxing; and the instructors were terrific, of course!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At a Glance

The 16th Institute year: The foremost opportunity for diverse organizations to learn a spectrum of plain language skills to create vibrant print communications. Applications to eHealth and verbal communication will also be discussed.

2008 Dates
 

Summer Institute
Sunday, June 8 (1 pm start) through
Wednesday, June 11 (11:30 am close)
 

Fall Institute (repeat)
Sunday, October 26 (1 pm start) through
Wednesday, October 29 (11:30 am close)
Location
 

Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport, Maine

 
Sponsor/Trainer

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Health Literacy Institute
Center for Health Policy, Planning & Research
University of New England, Portland, Maine.
Sue Stableford, MPH, MSB, Director and Trainer



Who Should Attend

The Institute is designed for non-profits, government agencies, educational institutions, and health systems.

Health communication/health education/health promotion specialists

Writers/editors in health organizations, clinical systems, and government agencies

Academicians/researchers interested and/or involved in health literacy teaching or research projects

Nurses, social workers, nutritionists, allied health professionals, patient educators

Health science librarians

Behavioral health and substance abuse counselors

Specialists in disease or disability management

Writers/editors for eHealth projects and technology-based consumer medical information

Health system, health product, and quality control managers

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Draft Agenda

Sunday, June 8 or Sunday, October 26
1:00pm – 4:30 pm
 

Welcome — Introductions, overview
 

Defining the health literacy problem — The national environment and the research base
 

Identifying characteristics of plain language
 

Using and interpreting the Fry readibility formula

 
Monday, June 9 or Monday, October 27
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
 

Planning successful communications — Using a structured tool to define and connect your audience, your message, and your mission
 

Writing for accessibility— Why and how to write to communicate: Hands on practice
 
Tuesday, June 10 or Tuesday, October 28
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
 

Layout and graphics — Creating appeal and reading ease in print and on screen
 

Clear Communication for eHealth—How plain language works on the web
 

Integrating plain language planning, writing, and designing
 
Wednesday, June 11 or Wednesday, October 29
8:30 am – 11:30 am

 

Field testing strategies — Why and how to test with your audience

 

Yes…buts — Taking the message back home

 

Finale — Wrap up and evaluation


Both Institutes include:

Welcome reception

Breaks with refreshments each morning and afternoon

Lunch on Monday and Tuesday
(Full breakfast is included with overnight stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.)


Questions about the agenda? Contact:

Sue Stableford (Maine)
email: sstableford@une.edu
or phone: 207-221-4567

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Coaching

Personal coaching after each Institute is designed to help participants integrate and successfully apply what they learn at the Institute. Each participant will be coached by the Institute trainer, who has many years of experience in health literacy and plain language. She will custom-tailor assistance to help each participant develop a plain language document or website.

Scheduled follow-up contacts by phone, email, and fax will allow the trainer/coach to offer feedback, answer questions, and suggest “next steps.” It will also provide support when participants return to their organizations and face possible resistance to a new way of communicating.

Please note: Coaching services will be provided by phone, email, and fax. The trainer will not be conducting on-site (travel-related) visits as part of the coaching agreement.

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Dates and Locations

2008 Dates
 

Summer Institute
Sunday, June 8 (1 pm start) through
Wednesday, June 11 (11:30 am close)

Fall Institute
Sunday, October 26 (1 pm start) through
Wednesday, October 29 (11:30 am close)

Location

 

Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport, Maine (www.freeportdowntown.stayhgi.com)

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Accommodations/Reservations

The Institute will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, Maine, just down the street from LL Bean. The Hotel has reserved a block of guest rooms for Institute participants at the reduced rate of $149/night. This rate is available the Saturday night before each Institute through Tuesday night of each Institute. Summer Institute room rate is guaranteed until May 8, 2008. Fall Institute room rate is guaranteed until September 25, 2008.

To reserve your room, click one of these sites: For Summer Institute, click here

For Fall Institute, click here. If you prefer to reserve a room by phone, call the Hilton directly and tell them you are attending the Summer or Fall Health Literacy Institute. Tel 207-865-1433.

The Hilton Garden Inn is in the heart of Freeport Village, a 5 minutewalk from LL Bean, a fine range of restaurants, and many shops. A few miles away is Wolf Neck Woods State Park, a public nature preserve on the ocean with great walking trails. Portland, Maine's major city with many additional attractions, is just 20 minutes away.

Hotel rooms have microwaves, small refrigerators, and free internet access along with the usual amenities.

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Transportation to Freeport, Maine

The Portland, Maine jetport is about 30 minutes from downtown Freeport and is served by many major airlines. Regular taxis and rental cars are available at the airport. You can also make a reservation with a local shuttle, Mermaid Transportation. Call: 800-696-2463.

Buses run direct from Boston's South Station and from Logan Airport to Portland. Amtrak has regular passenger train service from Boston's North Station to Portland. Cabs to Freeport are available at the Portland bus/train station.

Boston’s Logan Airport and the Manchester, New Hampshire airport are both about 2.5 hours from Freeport. Rental cars are available at both airports.

Mermaid Transportation offers van transportation from both Logan and Manchester airports right to the hotel. They also pick up for the return trip. See: www.gomermaid.com and check schedules and rates to Portland from Boston or Manchester.

If you register with Mermaid on line, be sure to start by selecting your arrival airport. On the second screen, choose from the list of hotels and enter "Hilton Garden Inn." The rest should be self-explanatory.

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Registration and Payment

Be sure to call or email the registrar BEFORE sending registration or payment for an Institute. Telephone: 207-602-2589. Email: mbissonnette@une.edu. This is the only way to be sure there is space available.

Enrollment in each Institute is limited to 30 participants, so sign up early! Make a room reservation by calling the Hilton Garden Inn directly: 207-865-1433. Or, use the weblinks in the section above — Accommodations/Reservations.

Registration for the Institute is handled by the Office of Continuing Medical Education at the University of New England. You may register by phone, fax, or mail. On-line registration is not available, but you can complete the form (click below) and print it out from this site. Payment must be enclosed or arranged at time of registration.

To register by phone:
 

Call 207-602-2589. Hold your place with a credit card while waiting for your organization to cut a check. We will not charge the card if we know a check is coming and it arrives within 30 days. We advise you do this to hold your place.
   

To register by fax or mail:

 

Print out a registration form. Fax or mail back to the address on the form. Fax Number: 207-602-5957
You may hold your place with a credit card while waiting for your organization to cut a check. We will not charge the card if we know a check is coming and it arrives within 30 days. We advise you do this to hold your place.

   

To register with a P.O.:
 

Payment must be guaranteed with a personal credit card until payment is received.

Payment must be enclosed or arranged at time of registration.

Click below for a registration form

PDF Registration Form

HTML Registration Form

Tuition: The tuition fee of $899 includes 4 days of training, 2 hours of individual follow-up coaching, a take-home training workbook, a welcome reception, morning and afternoon refreshment breaks daily, and lunch on Monday and Tuesday for both Institutes.

Final Confirmation/Terms of Withdrawal
You will receive initial confirmation as soon as payment is received. Final confirmation for the 2008 Summer Institute will be mailed by May 9, 2008. Final confirmation for the 2008 Fall Institute will be mailed by Friday, September 26, 2008. In the unlikely event of Institute cancellation, you will be notified by those dates. The University and The Institute are not responsible for non-refundable airline tickets due to cancellation.

Participants who withdraw prior to these confirmation dates, will receive a refund less a $75 processing fee. After final confirmation dates above, no refunds will be given, although you may send a substitute.

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Area Attractions

Maine is called “Vacationland” with good reason! Freeport is a small, friendly village with interesting shops and many restaurants within easy walking distance of the Hilton Garden Inn. Whatever you want — brick-oven pizza, ethnic cuisine, homemade ice cream, local brew, or fresh seafood — it’s all here. Freeport is home to many outlet stores as well.

The Maine weather is unpredictable, but usually warm enough in June and October to enjoy outdoors. Be sure to bring a sweater, jacket, and rainwear.

For more information about the area, check out this website:
www.freeportusa.com We thank them for use of their photos on this website.

 

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