The connection between literacy, employment, health and wellness is striking

Where do adult literacy rates stand in Milwaukee County?

The Adult Learning Center in Milwaukee was forced to close its doors last month after serving thousands of people looking to improve their reading and math skills. This comes as 1.5 million people in Wisconsin need help building literacy skills, and many employers who post “help wanted” signs struggle to fill jobs. Here’s what you need to know about literacy and where to find help:

According to the Literacy Gap Map from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, in Milwaukee County, 25% of adults are at or below the lowest literacy level, and 20.5% live below the poverty level. About 15% of these residents say their overall health is either “fair” or “poor,” the report says.

How much does the state and federal government spend on adult literacy?

A 2022 article in ProPublica said the federal government put $675 million into adult education in 2021. This sounds like a substantial investment, but the number has been flat for over 20 years when adjusted for inflation.

Gov. Tony Evers’ 2023-25 state budget would provide about $750,000 to help Wisconsin Literacy, an organization that provides healthy literacy programming to adults in communities throughout the state.

How many jobs are open and how would improving literacy help?

Wisconsin had 182,000 job openings in May 2023, according to the latest federal estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 345,000 Wisconsin adults still need their high school diploma or equivalent. An adult without a high school equivalency makes $10,000 less a year than an adult with one, according to Wisconsin Health Literacy.

Where can people get help building literacy skills?

LITERACY SERVICES OF WISCONSIN

MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE GED/HSED PROGRAM

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (HSED) program

YWCA SOUTEAST WISCONSIN COMMUNITY ADULT LEARNING LAB

Click here to get a full list of Community-based organizations that provide basic skills instruction.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Relevant to the Issues Discussed in the Article

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.
   • Indicator 4.6.1: Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sex.

2. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
   • Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 1 (No Poverty), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 4, the specific target is 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy.
• Under SDG 1, the specific target is 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children living in poverty in all its dimensions.
• Under SDG 3, the specific target is 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 4.6.1: Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional literacy and numeracy skills, by sex.
• Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
• Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: jsonline.com

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