This document provides information about arthritis programs funded by the Montana Arthritis Program and marketing strategies for those programs. It includes contact information for arthritis program coordinators, descriptions of the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program and Walk with Ease programs, potential marketing locations in communities, examples of marketing from existing sites, tips on using incentives, and dates for upcoming webinars on the topics.

1. Please dial 1-866-910-4857, then
975750 to join us on the phone.

2. Marketing & Recruiting for your
Arthritis Foundation AFEP &
WWE Programs!

3. Who are your contacts through
the mini-grant?
Emily Epperson, Health Education Specialist, eepperson@mt.gov, (406) 444-0959
Katie Levine, Program Coordinator klevine@arthritis.org, (406) 203-3019
Heather Beck, Program Manager, hbeck@mt.gov, (406) 444-0958
Heather Zimmerman, Epidemiologist hzimmerman@mt.gov, (406) 444-2732

4. Arthritis Foundation Programs funded
through the Montana Arthritis Program
• AFEP is a fun-filled, low-impact course that helps most people with
arthritis increase their joint flexibility and find relief from arthritis pain
and stiffness. Developed by experts, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise
Program features gentle, joint-safe movements and can be adapted for
various fitness levels.
▫ 8 weeks, 2 times a week, ~1hr per class session
• WWE is a fitness program that has been proven to reduce pain and
improve overall health. WWE promotes education about walking safely
and comfortably, arthritis self-management, and successful physical
activity for people with arthritis. Classes begin with a pre-walk discussion,
covering a specified topic related to exercise and arthritis, followed by a 10
to 40 minute walk that includes a warm-up and cool-down.
▫ 6 weeks, 3 times a week, ~1hr per class session

5. Marketing in your community
• Adult Learning Centers
• Area Agency on Aging
• Health Departments
• Library
• Senior Center
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Hospitals and/or clinics
• Newspaper
▫ Obituary section
• Fitness facilities
• Businesses and
organizations
▫ Bathroom stalls (potty
press)
• Transportation
• Grocery stores and/or
pharmacies

6. Marketing snippets from existing
sites

11. http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_39b49e02-cfd1-11e2-9c0a-0019bb2963f4.html

12. http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_0bdec4d4-9bf7-11e2-b2a6-0019bb2963f4.html

16. Heuiser Physical Therapy, Helena
• Flyers at coffee shops, the clinic, and at the
Carroll PE center
• Information on the clinic's Facebook page
• Yellow Page advertisement within the clinic's
advertisement
• Presentation at the Helena IR Health Fair
• Lots of word of mouth with patients
• Discussed the program with a few MDs, PAs,
and FNPs in the Helena area

17. St. Joseph Medical Center, Polson
• Flyers in local gas stations, PT clinics, chiropractors
offices, nursing homes and the local senior citizen
center
• Most items were purchased from Wal-Mart
▫ Cart to carry items, hand weights, pedometers, & ankle
weights.
• Full-page newspaper ad in the local journal which
is where they got most of my participants.
• Promoted within the hospital with ads at the front
desk, in the lobby, in the PT clinic, and talked to our
Orthopedic department to help market to those with
Arthritis.

18. Using incentives
• Check out the Arthritis Foundation website,
http://www.incentives.afgear.org/, for some incentives you
can purchase.

19. August’s webinar calls:
August 26th, 10-11am
August 27th, 2-3pm
Please email me as to which webinar
date you will be able to attend.
Now, go enjoy the sunshine!