Provena St. Mary's Hospital – Kankakee , Illinois
Aprendemos Juntos: We Learn Together Program

What is it?
Aprendemos Juntos: We Learn Together, which was launched in 2006 at the hospital, teaches English to adults and offers lessons in health literacy, sharing ways to stay healthy and obtain care in the event of an emergency. The classes meet twice a week for two hours at a time, and students can attend on a drop-in basis. Lessons include activities in phonics, basic conversation, translation, vocabulary building, and listening and writing skills. The Provena St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation donated $200 for supplies; the hospital donates the space, books, and supplies; and the Sisters donate books and supplies when needed. The health literacy component of the program includes lessons about safety hazards, common illnesses, medication use, visiting a doctor, and other personal health issues.

Who is it for?
Kankakee County's growing Hispanic population, especially those with very limited English language skills.

Why do they do it?
The total number of Spanish speakers residing in Kankakee County grew 350% between 1990 and 2005. Statistics indicate that at least one-third to one-half of these individuals speaks English less than "very well." Although some English as a Second Language (ESL) programs were already in the community, all but one were held during hours when the adults who needed the program were working, and none focused on health literacy. Learning English helps students communicate better within their community, which can lead to better jobs and better interaction with their own children and other family members. The health literacy component can lead students to better communication with their doctors, which can lead to better health care for the students and their families. 

Impact: Approximately 20 students a year go through the program, and they report being better able to do practical, everyday things as a result of the classes. Many find the English they learn helpful for their jobs, for understanding how to pay their bills, for when they need to describe something to their doctor or understand what their doctor is saying, or for helping their children with homework. Another student was preparing for his citizenship test and was able to pass with the help of the English he learned. The students report feeling more at home in the U.S. as a result of the classes.

Contact: Maggie Wolff
System Public Relations and Marketing Associate
Phone: 708-478-7967
Email:  maggie.wolff@provena.org