Community or Non-Profit
Community organizations and non-profits provide a wide range of health information and services to consumers. Some community organizations are non-profits supported by private sources, others exist through government mandate. Community senior centers and disease-specific foundations and advocacy organizations are examples of entities that offer information and resources to the public or their membership. Adult literacy and patient navigator programs are examples of organizations that provide skill building and support services. Peer support plays a vital role in all of these areas.
Consumers often combine information provided by these organizations with information received from other sources like providers, insurers, industry and government. Health literacy skills are required to determine the quality of the information and how best to apply it for self-advocacy efforts.