When health literacy issues are not addressed in public health communication products, we create barriers to understanding and to the use of these products. The National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy makes clear we all share responsibility for improving health literacy through the ways we communicate about health. This panel presents four different approaches at CDC to health literacy work. One presentation describes a new tool, the Clear Communication Index, that will help health professionals evaluate health communication products according to factors identified in the research literature. The Index provides a research-based alternative to checklists and readability formulas. The second presentation reports on the “science literacy” elements of the public communication about H1N1 pandemic communication. Using content analysis, focus groups and interviews, the study team identified the most consistently problematic types of scientific information for the public. A third presentation examines the challenges and value-added in translating the updated Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication manual into plain language for professionals. The fourth presentation describes how research with parents and healthcare professionals informed the development of a childhood immunization communication campaign. Using plain language principles, CDC also developed educational materials, mass media products, and a website. Each of the four approaches aims to identify and lower or remove barriers to the audience’s understanding and use of communication products. By the end of the session, participants will be able to discuss the multi-faceted nature of health literacy challenges and successful strategies and tactics to meet these challenges.