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Sep
19
Posted by Emily Hamstra on September 19th, 2024
Posted in: Funding, New from NNLM Region 5, News from NNLM Region 5
The Network of the National Library of Medicine, Region 5 is pleased to announce this year’s (Grant Year 4, May 2024 – April 2025) awardees for the Outreach & Engagement and Technology Improvement Awards. These outstanding projects will improve access to health information, reach new communities within Region 5, and expand awareness and use of NLM resources.
Empathy Lens: Humanizing Images & Education for Harm Reduction
Project leads: Meg Brunner and Erinn McGraw
Description: Research has demonstrated that the use of stigmatizing language and imagery related to substance users perpetuates harmful stereotypes and health inequities among this already marginalized population. As information specialists in the substance use field, part of ADAI’s mission is to advance the progress of addiction science and improve public health by seeking and sharing valid and reliable information about substance use disorders for a range of audiences, including information about harm reduction, treatment, prevention, and recovery for researchers, health care providers, the public health and addiction workforces, and the general public. However, finding realistic, high-quality images to this support information dissemination work is a constant struggle, as many currently available asset collections, including fee-based stock photo sites, largely contain dehumanizing and/or factually incorrect graphics on this topic. This project aims to develop a free online resource of accurate, compassionate, and non-stigmatizing images to be used both in outreach and educational work and in the related work of organizations performing similar tasks and to provide evidence-based education for the populations served about 1) the impact of harmful images and language on stigma and related health inequities for people who use drugs and 2) where to find accurate, non-stigmatizing information and images to use in information and outreach work, including both in our collection and in recommended related resources like MedlinePlus, PubMed (for information) and NLM Digital Collections (for images).
Health Info Access Center in the Western Frontier /Centro de Acceso a Información de Salud en la Frontera Occidental
Project lead: Tanja Ramming
Description: With partnerships across Modoc County (CA) and the rural far north, will purchase computer equipment to provide community access to virtual health information tools. This bilingual project will provide access and support to rural community members, college students and organizational partners and extend access to NLM and NNLM’s multilingual health information resources.
Exploring the Future of Health Information Literacy through Generative AI Integration: A Pilot Study
Project lead: Kyle Robinson
Description: This project aims to develop a user-friendly AI chatbot hosted within the California Health Sciences University library. The core objective of this initiative is to provide individuals with equitable access to high-quality health information by training on databases such as MedlinePlus, and other reputable open-access health databases, to focus the chatbot’s knowledge base. The project will unfold in several phases, beginning with the development and training of the chatbot, followed by its implementation in a strategically placed access point equipped with an interactive tablet. This approach will not only facilitate immediate access to information but will also promote digital health literacy and equity in a region marked by significant linguistic and cultural diversity.
If you have questions about the NNLM Region 5 funding program, contact Emily Hamstra (ehamstra@uw.edu).
ABOUT Emily Hamstra