Announce the Implementation of Your Program

As stated earlier, some prevention programs will be large and multicomponent, while others will be modest and focused. Although some programs will require significant media components and others will not, in general, most prevention programs should announce their efforts and seek publicity. Thus, even though not all prevention programs will need to engage in aggressive publicity efforts, the following provide some important suggestions to consider.

Develop a project brochure. Even with limited funds, develop a brochure that explains the goals, objectives, and mission of the project; lists prevention program leaders; and provides contact information. It can serve as a promotional device to recruit new participants and as a tool to answer the most commonly asked questions about the project.

Develop project fact sheets. Fact sheets can provide a wealth of background information about the substance use problem, the effects of the problem, examples of the problem, personal stories, and statistics. Fact sheets can also provide project-specific information, such as upcoming activities, project updates, project principals’ biographies, and project successes and outcomes.

Convene a press conference. Press conferences can provide a wealth of information, delivered by multiple speakers, through multiple formats, to several media representatives at a single event. They can deliver a message from spokespersons, people telling their stories, and community leaders. Press conferences are opportunities to deliver verbal messages, provide visual images, present videotapes, and deliver complete messages.

Develop a project Website. Even shoe-string efforts can create prevention project Websites. College students and young Website programmers are often eager to enhance their resumes by developing and maintaining Websites for free or at low cost. Simple Websites can be placed on the Internet for minimal fees, and many agencies and organizations will host Websites for free as a charitable act. The most basic Website could consist primarily of the information developed for the project brochure.