NHEW 2016 Toolkit 9 15 16 Reformated

Society for Public Health Education • National Health Education Week 2016| 2
Acknowledgements
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is grateful to the followingindividualswho contributed subject-
matter expertise and editorial guidancein thedevelopment of the National Health Education Week (NHEW) 2016
Materials:
Elaine Auld, MPH, MCHES
Chief Executive Officer
SOPHE
Victoria White, BS
Public HealthIntern
SOPHE
Patrick Heinrich, CHES
Account Manager
HealthSolutions
JennyLee, PhD.,MPH, CHES
Assistant Professor, Department of FamilyMedicine (PCC#210)
FacultyAssociate, Texas PreventionInstitute
Universityof NorthTexasHealthScience Center
Cozette Lehman
CommunicateHealth
Tonya Nash, MPH, CHES
HealthCoach/Freelance Writer
StacyRobison, MPH, MCHES
President and Co-Founder
CommunicateHealth, Inc.
Special thanks to:
SOPHE Communications Committee

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................................................................................4
What is Health Education? ............................................................................................................................................................................4
Activity Schedule..............................................................................................................................................................................5
Planning Your NHEW Activity .......................................................................................................................................................................6
Building Organizational or Community Support ........................................................................................................................6
Establishing Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................................................................6
Identifying and Reaching Your Population..................................................................................................................................7
Identifyingand Utilizing Resources..............................................................................................................................................7
Selecting and Planning Activities...................................................................................................................................................8
Getting Your Message Out ............................................................................................................................................................................9
Traditional Media Outlets ..............................................................................................................................................................9
Social Media Outlets .....................................................................................................................................................................11
Sample Tweets ...............................................................................................................................................................................11
Sample Facebook Posts ................................................................................................................................................................13
SOPHE’s Social Media Platforms .................................................................................................................................................11
7 Steps to Communicating Your Message..................................................................................................................................15
News Release.................................................................................................................................................................................17
Sample News Release...................................................................................................................................................18
Proclamation...................................................................................................................................................................................19
Sample Proclamation....................................................................................................................................................20
Role of Health Education Specialists.........................................................................................................................................................21
Where Do Health Education Specialists Work?........................................................................................................................21
Where Are Health Education Specialists Trained?...................................................................................................................21
What Is a CHES and MCHES? .......................................................................................................................................................21
Why Are Health Education Specialists Vital to the Nation?...................................................................................................22
Advocacy Matters .........................................................................................................................................................................................23
Leverage Policy to Promote Health Education.........................................................................................................................24
Take Action .....................................................................................................................................................................................23
More Advocacy Information........................................................................................................................................................24
Resources........................................................................................................................................................................................................26
Evaluation .......................................................................................................................................................................................................27
References ......................................................................................................................................................................................................28

Introduction
Since 1995, National HealthEducationWeek(NHEW) hasbeencelebratedduringthe thirdfull weekof October.
Sponsoredbythe SocietyforPublicHealthEducation(SOPHE),thiscelebrationfocusesnationalattentionona
majorpublichealthissue andpromotes consumers’understandingof the role of healtheducation inpromotingthe
public’shealth.
Thisyear’sNHEW will paytribute to PartnershipstoBuildCommunityHealth onOctober17-21, 2016. Thistoolkitcanbe
usedto promote NHEW,includingthe followingdaily themes:
 Monday, October 17: CommunityHealth, HealthInequities,andFaith-basedPartnerships
 Tuesday, October18: Worksite HealthPartnerships
 Wednesday,October19: School HealthPartnerships
 Thursday, October 20: GovernmentOrganizational Partnerships
 Friday, October 21: AcademicPartnerships
To planyour organization’s NHEWeventssee the nextpage fordetailedinformationoneachday’sactivities. There isno
requirementtoalignyourNHEW eventswiththese themes.Youare welcome tofocusonotherareasrelatedto health
educationthatbestsuit youraudience.
As we celebrate thisyear’sNHEW,we will honorthe workof healtheducationspecialists andwill acknowledge and
appreciate partnershipsthathelpus buildcommunityhealth.We recognizehealtheducationspecialistsfortheir
contributionstopromotingandimprovingpopulationhealth andtoprovidinghealtheducationservicesforcost-
effectiveprevention,wellness,anddisease management.
Joinus as we worktogethertoraise awarenessof the importance of ourfuture HealthEducationSpecialistsinimproving
consumerhealthandwellness.
What Is Health Education?
Healtheducationdrawsfromthe biological,environmental,psychological, physical,andmedical sciences.Itaimsto
promote healthandpreventdisease,injury,disability,andpremature deaththroughtheory-basedinterventionsthat:
promote voluntaryindividual behaviorchange;orpolicy,systemandenvironmentalchange activities,programs,
campaigns,andresearchto helpmake the healthychoice the easychoice.Healtheducationisanessentialhealthservice
that involvesthe practice of fourcore activities:1) assessment,2) planning;3) implementation;and4) evaluation. By
focusingonprevention,healtheducationaimstoreduce the financialandhumancoststhat individuals,employers,
healthfacilities,insurance companies,andthe nationwouldspendonhealthcare andmedical treatment(Collegeof
PublicHealth,n.d.).
In practice,healtheducationadoptsabroad,ecological approachinaneffortto create healthycommunities.Health
EducationSpecialistsworkatthe individual,group,institutional,community,andsystemlevelstoimprove health
knowledge,attitudes,andskillsforthe purpose of changingorencouragingbehaviorsthatresultinoptimal health
status.The fieldprovidesascientificbackdropthathasestablishedstrongtheoriesfordiseasepreventionandhealth
enhancingbehaviors.

Activity Schedule
Monday: CommunityHealth,Health Inequities,andFaith-basedPartnerships
We begin National Health Education Week by celebrating community health, health inequities,and faith-based partnerships.Health
educators can’t promote health, eliminatedisparities and build healthy environments alone.Public health partnerships allow us to
expand our resources and increasecapacity to implement sustainablechanges in communities across thenation.Let’s br eak down
silos,establish newpartnerships to connect people in supportof common goals and collaborate.
Activities:
o Create an appreciation Facebook or blog post: take a second to appreciatethe partnerships thatyou have built
over the years and explain whatmakes that partnership so great.
o As an extra: add a photo to Instagramto be a partof our photo contest and shareyour partnership through
pictures.Use the hashtag#NHEW2016 and tag SOPHE’s Instagramas you sharephotos that display your success
as a partnership.*Must use Instagramand the above hashtagin order to be qualified.
Tuesday: Worksite Health Partnerships
Today, let’s celebrate health education partnerships in the worksitesetting. This day is aboutsharingand promoting current health
education efforts and spreadingawareness aboutthe profession.
Activities:
o As health carecosts increase,both employers and employees think worksitehealth promotion programs can affect
heath behaviors and costs.Check out this module to learn more: Incentives in Worksite Health Promotion Module
and Scenario 1.
o Managers want to know the costanalysisof worksitehealth promotion programs.This introductory primary
module shows you how to calculatethe costs.
o We want you to shareyour advice: how have you implemented a successful work sitehealth promotion program.
what can an upcoming Health Educator do in order to land the position thatyou currently have? Use the social
media of your choiceto spread some tips and tag #NHEW2016!
Wednesday: School Health Partnerships
Today we celebrate our School Health Partnerships,the ones that have helped us thrive, and the ones that will behelpingour future
generations thrive.
Activities:
o Join our webinar to hear how partnerships between school-based health centers and schools advancestudentand
school employee health. Speakers: Jordanna Snyder, MPH/CHES, programmanager for school-based Health
Allianceand Hallwaysto Health, Bill Klatz, viceprincipal of Merlo Station High School,Aurora Chavez, health
educator at San Fernando High School Teen Wellness Center, Sara Trivette, CHES, physician assistantatTurner
Elementary School,and Rachael Bowen, health educator at MilwaukieHigh School Wellness Center.
o Take a second to post on social media the top 3 elements all successful partnerships should haveand tag
#NHEW2016.
Thursday: GovernmentOrganizational Partnerships
Health educators will need to continueto promote health educators and organizations as critical components to address the health
crisisin our society and educate decision-makers on national and statelegislativeissues related to the health of society.
Activities:
o Highlightsome activities thatyour organization has contributed to the public health world.
o Highlightsome accomplishments other organizations havemadefor public health.SOPHE will postsuccess stories
from their cooperative agreement with the CDC under the EACH project.
Send your highlights to news@sophe.org. We’ll post highlights to Facebook and SOPHE’s website.
Friday:Academic Partnerships
After celebratingour health education partnerships and energizingtomorrow’s leaders,we honor the future of our profession,
demonstrate that health education will be more relevant in comingyears. Today is abouthighlightingand supportingthe key players
of the next generation.
Activities:
o Share the innovativeways academic partnerships areimprovinghealth education for all.Use #NHEW2016 hashtag.
o Students: we want you to create a Facebook postexplainingwhy you chose public health as your career path, tag
SOPHE, and use the hashtags #NHEW2016 #WhyIChosePublicHealth

Planning Your NHEW Activity
Rememberthatprograms,activities,andcollaborationscanextendbeyondthe specificdatesortimeline of the official
NHEWeek.Collaborate withlocal,state,andnational partnerstobuildsustainable programs.SOPHEwill be extending
effortstopromote healtheducationandhealtheducationspecialistsbyfocusingonthe followingsub-themes:
 Monday, October 17: CommunityHealth, HealthInequities,andFaith-basedPartnerships
 Tuesday, October18: Worksite HealthPartnerships
 Wednesday,October19: School HealthPartnerships
 Thursday, October 20: GovernmentOrganizational Partnerships
 Friday, October 21: AcademicPartnerships
Building Organizational or Community Support
Whetherledbyan individual ora planningcommittee,successful campaignsare oftengroundedbybroadersupportof
institutionsorcommunities.One waytoelicitsuchsupportisto recruitmembersandorganizationsthatare involvedin
or have expressedacommitmenttocommunityhealth,school health,youthgroups,healtheducation,andhealth
promotion,locally,regionallyand/ornationally.Supportcanbe fosteredthroughadvertising,networkingandone -on-
one interviewing.Byengagingbroadersupportforyourcampaign,youhave the potential to:
 Gain a deeperunderstandingof yourpopulation’sneedsandassets
 Reach greaternumbersof yourprioritypopulation
 Increase credibilityof yourcampaign
 Gain accessto additional materials
 Benefitfrommultiple expertise andadditional humanresources
 Share financial costsassociatedwithcampaignmaterials,events,and/oractivities
 Fostera collegial networkwithinthe community-at-large
 Buildoff pastsuccessful initiatives
 Improve opportunitiesforprogramsustainability
Establishing Goals and Objectives
The missionof NHEW 2016 isto increase the awarenessof healtheducationspecialists’capacityinthe communityand
to promote the healthof society.The overall goalsof NHEW2016 include the following:
 To provide supportandresourcesforhealtheducationspecialistsandotherhealtheducation
professionals
 To train andeducate the nextgenerationof HealthEducationSpecialists
 To increase awarenessof employersandotherprofessionalsof the variousroleshealtheducationspecialistscan
playacross sectors
The specificobjectivesforyourcampaigncanbe determinedlocally,basedonthe interestsandneedsof yourpriority
population.Examplesof objectivesforNHEW2016 mightinclude:

 By the end of NHEW 2016, volunteerfor“X” amountof hoursatan eventthatincreases awarenessof the
importanceof certified healtheducation specialists
 By the end of NHEW 2016, publish “X” numberof social media postson health education successes,current
effortsand futureopportunities
 By the end of NHEW 2016, inform “X” numberof stakeholderswhy crossagency partnershipsare importantto
increase resourcesand to protect thehealth of the public
 By the end of NHEW 2016, educate“X” numberof individuals/organizationson theimportanceof health
education specialistsin yourschoolor community
 By the end of NHEW 2016, sharewith “X” numberof schools/colleges/universitieshow yourworkasa Health
Education Specialistinfluencesthe community.
Identifying and Reaching Your Population
A successful campaignisgroundedinunderstandingwhere yourprioritypopulation canbe reached.Mostlikely,this
populationwillbe determinedbythe emphasisof the NHEWtheme, “PartnershipstoBuild CommunityHealth,”and
definedobjectivesof yourcampaign.
Once you have identifiedyourprioritypopulation,gatherinformationonthe characteristicsthatthose individualsmight
have incommon.Such characteristicsmightinclude age,life stage,gender,attitudesorbeliefs,patternsof behavior,
sexual orientation, religion,ethnicity,origin,healthliteracy,andhealthstatus.The more specificallydefinedyour
populationof interest,the more successfullyyoucanfocusyour campaign.Otherquestionstoconsiderincludethe
following:
1. WHAT istheirinformationneed? Howmuchdo theyknow about healtheducation andhealtheducation
specialists? Forexample,afactsheetfrom National CommissionforHealthEducationCredentialing,Inc.
provides informationonwhoHealthEducationSpecialistsare,whattheirjobmayentail,andhow to become a
healtheducationspecialist.See more at http://nchec.org/credentialing/profession/
2. WHERE can yourprioritypopulation be reached?Ratherthan locatingacampaignat the most convenientplace,
considerfindingplaces theyfrequent.Bylearningwhere agroup's"hotspots"are located,youwill be able to
maximize the time youspendduringyour campaign.Locationstoconsiderinclude beautyshops,placesof
worship,barbershops,nightclubs,local festivals,orinanyothercommunitieswherepeople live,work,and
play.
3. WHEN will yourpopulationof interestbe mostopentothe campaign? Inadditiontoa popularlocation,an
effectivecampaigntakesplace duringtimesconvenienttoyouraudience.Youmightconsideraweekend
communityfairor event, afterworksocial,etc.Remember,notall activitiesmayfitintoastandard“9 to 5” day.
Identifying and Utilizing Resources
Understandingandutilizingyourresourcesisanintegral componenttoa successful campaign.Resourcesinclude:
 Human resources(e.g.,employees,volunteers,interns).
 Funding(e.g.,availablecash,grants,donations).
 Materials(e.g.,handouts,flyers,booklets,guides).
 Space (e.g.,physical space aswell asairtime,webpresence).
 Time (forplanning,implementation,andevaluation)

Selecting and Planning Activities
Once you have developedobjectivesforyourprogram, you shouldplanthe tasksneeded toachieve yourobjectives.
WhenplanningyoureventsandactivitiesforNHEW,considerimpactingyourintendedaudienceata varietyof levels:
Individual:Share on social mediawhatyoudo inyour workas a HealthEducationSpecialist orhow a HealthEducation
Specialisthasimpactedyou.
Organizational: Share withyouremployerhowaHealthEducationSpecialistcouldsupportyourorganization.
K-12 Schools:Share withyour administrationhow HealthEducationSpecialistcanimprove healthoutcomesof students
and increase academicachievement.
Community:ConnectHealthEducationSpecialistsmore withthe public,andcelebrate healtheducationsuccesses,
currentefforts,andfuture opportunities,bysponsoringacommunity-wide event,suchasa healthfairora workshop.
PublicPolicy: Supportlegislationthatpromoteshealtheducationbycontactingyourstate or local representative.
The followingare sample planningactivitiestoengage communitymembers,school leaders,policymakers,andothersto
buildawarenessaroundthe importance of promoting the integration,futurerelevance,andfundingof the health
educationspecialistasanessential memberof the healthcare team.
 Encourage decision-makerstofundprogramsthatinvestinprimaryprevention
 Write a letterto the editorof yourlocal newspaperinresponse toarecentarticle that highlightsthe importance
of healtheducationspecialistsin healthcare teamsandin the community
 Submitpubliccommentstoregulatoryissuesandsignonto lettersthatsupportthe health promotionand
disease preventionworkof HealthEducationSpecialist
 Participate incommunityeventsthatpromote educationandawarenessof healtheducationspecialists
A crucial stepto engagingyourprioritypopulationforNHEW is gettingthe message out. Drawing
attentiontothe workand importance of healtheducationspecialistsinthe communitycanbe done inmanyways—by
visitingthe prioritypopulation,bywordof mouth,orthroughwrittencorrespondence. Know how yourpriority
populationpreferstoreceive information:
 Throughtraditional media(e.g.,newspapers,radio,television)
 Word of mouth throughfamilyor friends
 Placesof worship
 Local grocerystores
 Social media(e.g.,Twitter,Facebook,Instagram,blogs,yourwebsites,websitesof partnersorsister
organizations)

Getting Your Message Out
Traditional Media Outlets
Newspapers
Newspapersremainpopularvenuesthroughwhichindividualscanshare facts,resources,andopinions(althoughthere
iscurrentlya trendtoward strictlyonline status,whichreducesthe diversityof readerstothose withinternetaccess).
Whenadvocatingfora particularhealthissue,considerdistributingyourmessageinthe formof op-eds,letterstothe
editor,advertisements,andaddingyoureventtoacommunitycalendar.
Newsletters
Newslettersprovide asmallerforumthroughwhichreaderscan learnaboutspecificissues,events,or services.If you
knowof clinics,associationsororganizations thatmayhave memberswhoare partof yourprioritypopulation,submita
brief article aboutyourNHEW eventoractivity. Clear,concise articlesare more likelytobe acceptedforpublication.
Television
Basedon figuresfromthe U.S.CensusBureau(2015), Americansspendalmostthree hourswatchingtelevisionperday,
whichmakesitan excellentmarketingchannel.Thismediaoptioncanincrease the reachof yourmessage exponentially.
Many televisionstationsincludeasegmentduringthe morningoreveningnewsthatfocusesonahealthissue.Research
whichstationscoverthese segmentsandinformthatindividual of yourNHEWeventoractivity.Keepin mindthatyou
mustmake your case as to whythe publicwill be interestedinthe importance of healtheducation specialistsin
addressingprevention,wellness,andchronicdisease management.Tyingyourmessage toalocal healthconcernmay
convince journaliststhatyourmessage istimely.
Radio
While notas popularas television,radiocanalsobe an effectivewaytomarketa message,especiallyforcertain
populationsegments.Promotional NHEWmessages canbe readoverthe air to spreadthe word.Dependingonyour
prioritypopulation,trylocal stations,regionalstations,oreventhe National PublicRadio.
Public Service Announcement - PSA
A publicservice ad,are messagesinthe publicinterestdisseminatedbythe mediawithoutcharge,withthe objective of
raisingawareness,changingpublicattitudesandbehaviortowardsasocial issue.
SampleNHEW PSA:
SocietyforPublicHealthEducationScript
RadioPublicService Announcement:30sec (PSA)
National HealthEducationWeek:PartnershipstoBuildCommunityHealth
SocietyforPublicHealthEducation(SOPHE) celebratesits16th
annual National HealthEducationWeekduringthe
weekof October17 throughOctober21. Thiscelebrationfocusesnational attentiononmajorpublichealthissues
and promotesconsumers’understandingof the role of healtheducationinpromotingthe public’shealth.This
year’sNHEW will paytribute toPartnershipsandhow theyhelptobuildcommunityhealth.
For more information visitwww.sophe.org
A publicservice announcementbroughttoyoubythe SocietyforPublicHealthEducation.

Advertisement
An advertisementisa30 - 60 second film,picture orawrittennotice thatisshown
or presented tothe publictohelpsell aproductor to make an announcement.An
example of anad islocatedto the right.
Benefitsof usinganad:
 Providesinformationdirectlyto abroad audience inaquick,easyway.
 Easy way to promote a product,service,orevent.
 Bringsawarenesstoyourorganizationandenhancesthe goodwill
of yourbusiness.
 Helpsexplore new marketsforthe product,andretain currentmarkets.
Social Media
What Is Social Media?
Social mediaconsists of:
 Blogsand micro-blogs, suchasTwitter
 Social networkingsites,suchasFacebookandLinkedIn
 Video-sharingsites,suchasYouTube
 Image-sharingsites,suchas Instagramand Flickr
The keycharacteristicof social mediaisthat it’sorganizedarounduser-generatedcontent — people
sharingmessageswithotherpeople.Andbestof all,social mediasitesare generallyfreesothe costof
settingupan account isnon-existentornegligible.
How Can You Use Social Media to Convey Your Message?
Some pointstokeepinmindaboutusingsocial mediaare:
1. To keepyour social media channelsfreshand encourage people tokeepcoming back, you needto continually
post new information. You maynot have a great deal of newsaboutyour organization’seffortsonaregular
basis. You may therefore wishtopositionyoursocial mediachannel asanauthoritative source of reliable
health-relatednewsandupdate itweeklywithnew storiesonhealthtopicsrelatedtoyourinitiative.
2. Social mediais definedbythe presence ofuser-generatedcontent. Thatmeansthat people willbe havinga
conversationwithyoubypostingquestionsorcommentsonyourFacebookpage;givingyoursite athumbsup if

they like it;andrespondingtoentriesonblogsorto videoswithwrittencomments.Youneedtoinvesttime in
monitoringthese comments,listeningtowhatpeople are sayingtoand aboutyou,and
participatinginthe conversation.
3. Facebook isthe most usedapp, a whopping86 percent of Twitterusers say they use the site for news,of
Instagram’s user base,75 percentare outside of the US, and one in everythree professionalsinthe worldare
on LinkedIn.Readmore about125+ Essential Social MediaStatisticsEveryMarketerShouldKnow in2016:
https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-statistics-for-social-media-managers/
4. Addingvisual contentto your social mediaposts is a very smart way to get your most important content
noticed.Let’sface the facts – people like tolook atpictures.What’smore aestheticallypleasing?A tonof text
withwhite space,ora ton of textthathas picturestolookat thatbreaksup the text?Tentimesoutof ten,
you’re probablygoingtoreadthe article that has a ton of picturesonit. Justmake sure that the picture is
relevanttothe informationyouare conveying.
For more informationaboutsocial media platformsandhow touse them, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/socialmedia/tools/guidelines/pdf/socialmediatoolkit_bm.pdf
Blog Post
A blogisan online journal thatisregularlyupdated. Blogsmayfocuson a specifictopic(e.g.,yourorganization’s
initiative) orona broadertopic(e.g.,health newsinyourcommunity).Mostblogsare formattedsothat theirentries
are postedinreverse chronological order(the mostrecentatthe top) and readersare invitedtopostcommentsin
response toblogentries.
Some tipsfromthe CentersforDisease Control andPrevention(CDC) onbloggingbestpracticesappear below.
1. Observe the blogosphere byreadingotherpeople’sblogs beforestartingyourown. Youcan findblogsthrougha
blogsearchengine suchas Technorati (www.technorati.com)
2. Provide linksto otherreliable webpages that supportthe contentinyour blog
3. Keepyour posts relativelyshort,providingenoughinformationtosupportmainpointsbutnota lotof detail.Web
readersare more likelytoread shorterposts
4. Make headlinesattentiongrabbing
5. Include numberedor bulletedlists toallowmore white space onthe page
6. Use sub-headsand keepyour headingsand sentencesshort so that yourpostsare easyto scan quickly
7. Keepa consistentstyle andconversational tone
8. Use keywords strategically;usingappropriate searchtermswill helpmore people findyourposts
SampleNHEW Blog Post:
Duringthe weekof October17 - October21, 2016, SOPHEwill hosttheirannual National
HealthEducationWeek(NHEW).Thisyear’stheme is“PartnershipstoBuildCommunity
Health.” There is a differentfocuseverydayof the weekonthe variouspartnershipsin
communityhealth.

 Monday isabout community health, healthinequities,and faith-basedpartnerships.SOPHEwantsyou
to create an appreciationpost – take a few minutestoposton social mediaandshout out to your
favorite partnershighlighting how youhave made yourpartnership asuccessful one.Use Facebookor
Instagramwitha picture and tag #NHEW2016.
o Create an appreciation Facebook or blog post: take a second to appreciatethe partnerships thatyou have
builtover the years and explain what makes that partnership so great.
o As an extra: add a photo to Instagramto be a partof our photo contest and shareyour partnership
through pictures. Use the hashtag#NHEW2016 and tag SOPHE’s Instagramas you sharephotos that
display your successas a partnership.*Mustuse Instagramand the above hashtagin order to be
qualified.
 Tuesday isabout worksite healthpartnerships.SOPHEwantsyou toshare your advice onwhat a health
educatorcan do to land a currentjob.
o As health carecosts increase,both employers and employees think worksitehealth promotion programs
can affect heath behaviors and costs.Check out this module to learn more: Incentives in Worksite Health
Promotion Module and Scenario 1.
o Managers want to know the costanalysisof worksitehealth promotion programs.This introductory
primary module shows you how to calculatethe costs.
o We want you to shareyour advice: how have you implemented a successful work sitehealth promotion
program. what can an upcoming Health Educator do in order to land the position thatyou currently have?
Use the social media of your choiceto spread some tips and tag #NHEW2016!
 Wednesdaywill focusonschool healthpartnershipsandwillfeatureawebinarthatdiscussesutilizing
partnershipsbetweenschool-basedhealthcentersandschoolstoadvance studentandschool employee
health.
o Join our webinar to hear how partnerships between school-based health centers and schools advance
student and school employee health. Speakers: Jordanna Snyder, MPH/CHES, program manager for
school-based Health Allianceand Hallwaysto Health, Bill Klatz,viceprincipal of Merlo Station High School,
Aurora Chavez, health educator at San Fernando High School Teen Wellness Center, Sara Trivette, CHES,
physician assistantatTurner Elementary School, and Rachael Bowen, health educator at MilwaukieHigh
School Wellness Center.
o Take a second to post on social media the top 3 elements all successful partnershipsshould haveand tag
#NHEW2016.
 Thursday is all aboutthe governmentalorganization partnerships.
o Highlightsome activities thatyour organization has contributed to the public health world.
o Highlightsome accomplishments other organizations havemadefor public health.SOPHE will post
success stories fromtheir cooperative agreement with the CDC under the EACH project.
Send your highlights to news@sophe.org. We’ll post highlights to Facebook and SOPHE’s website.
 Friday will focusonthe advancementof community healtheducation,the studentsof highereducation.
o Share the innovativeways academic partnerships areimprovinghealth educati on for all.Use#NHEW2016
hashtag.
o Students: we want you to create a Facebook postexplainingwhy you chose public health as your career
path, tag SOPHE, and use the hashtags #NHEW2016 #WhyIChosePublicHealth
Twitter
SampleNHEW tweets:
 Monday: Create an appreciationpostaboutyourpartnershiponanysocial mediaexplainingwhyyouappreciate
that partnership&tag us #NHEW2016
 Tuesday: Share your advice:whatan upcomingHealthEducatorcan do to landthe jobthat you have!Tag uson
any social mediausingthe tag#NHEW2016
 Wednesday:Learnall abouthow toutilize partnershipsbetweenschool-basedhealthcentersandschoolsby
joining@SOPHEtweetswebinar#NHEW2016

 Thursday: Post a message on what your organization has done for public health & highlight another organization and
the work they've done #NHEW2016
 Friday: Students: create a Facebook post on why you chose public health as your major, tag SOPHE, & use the
hashtag #WhyIChosePublicHealth
You can engage inTwitterevents,including:
 Twitter Chat: Scheduledeventsinwhichyourorganizationcancommunicate withitsfollowersthrough
discussion,questionsandanswersessions,andthe disseminationof information
 Twitterview: Thisscheduledeventisatype of interviewinwhichthe interviewerandthe
interviewee are limitedtoconversationsmade of 140-character messages
 Twitter Town Hall: A scheduledforumthatallowsfollowerstosubmitquestionsonaspecifictopic. Responses
can be deliveredthroughlive tweets,video,orlive stream
 Live Tweeting: Tweetinglive fromaneventtohighlightkeypointsof apresentationandplay-by-playmoments
 ThunderClap:Thunderclap allowsasingle messagetobe mass-shared,flashmob-style,soitrisesabove the
noise of yoursocial networks. Youandotherswill share the same message atthe same time,spreadinganidea
throughFacebook,Twitter,andTumblr.
 Perisope:A videoapplicationmade byTwitterthatallowsyoutolive streamvideos.Peoplecanwatchvideos
usingthe app on theirphones orbygoingonline.
CDC offersthe followingtipsonTwitterbestpractices:
1. Set up a profile name,image, and biography whenyouestablishyourfree account.Yourprofile name shouldbe
short (15 characters maximum) andreflectthe nature of yourorganization.Your160-character biographyor
organizational descriptionshouldbe the firstpostfromyournew profile.Includealogoor graphicthat
representsyourorganization.
2. Keepcontent short and simple. CDC recommendstweetsof 120 charactersso that messagescanbe easilyre-
tweetedbyotherswithoutediting.
3. Provide more informationwith a shortenedURL of your main website. There are websites(e.g.,
http://tinyurl.com orhttp://is.gd) thatcanhelpyoushortenyourURL.
4. Promote your Twitter profile inothercommunicationmaterials.
5. Engage your followers bypostingona regularschedule.
6. Post other relevantcontentfrom partnersand followers.
Periscope
Periscope (https://www.periscope.tv/) isanewapplicationbyTwitterthatcan be usedto live streamvideos.Tostream
a video, youcan downloadthe PeriscopeapponyouriOSor androidphone andstart recordingusingyourphone
camera.Remembertochange your settingstopublictoallow otherstoview yourvideo.Viewerscanpostreal time
questionsandcommentstoyouand can tap the videotosendheartsas a way to “like”the broadcast.Youcan
announce toyour contacts the time anddate thatyou will be live streamingandcanuse Periscope toshare information
aboutNHEW or to live streamNHEWactivitiesinreal time.
Facebook

SampleNHEW Facebookposts:
 Monday: We kickoff National HealthEducationweekbycelebratingcommunityhealth,healthinequities,and
faith-basedpartnerships.we wanttohearfromyou! Create anappreciationpostonany social mediaandtalk
aboutyour partnership,andwhatmakesthatpartnershipsogreat.#NHEW2016
 Tuesday: Todaywe celebrate worksite partnershipsandwe wantyouto share your advice!Make a Facebook
post,or any othersocial mediaof yourchoice offeringtipsandadvice onhow an upcoming healtheducatorcan
landthe positionthatyouhave now. #NHEW2016
 Wednesday:Wednesdayisall aboutappreciating school healthpartnerships!JoinSOPHE’swebinartolearn
howto utilize partnershipsbetweenschool-basedhealthcentersandschoolsinorderto advance studentand
school employeehealth.#NHEW2016
 Thursday: Callingall governmentalorganizations! Today,we celebrateyouandyourpartnerships.We wantto
hearabout somethingthatyourorganizationiscurrentlydoing,orhasdone inthe past forpublichealth.Or,you
can highlightanotherorganizationandsomethinggoodtheyare contributingtothe publichealthworld!
#NHEW2016
 Friday To wrap up #NHEW2016 strongand to show whatthe future of healtheducationlookslike,we wantto
hearfrom students!Students –we wantyouto create a Facebookpostonwhy youchose publichealthandtag
us usingthe hashtags#WhyIChosePublicHealthand#NHEW2016
CDC suggeststhe followingbestpracticesforusingFacebooktocommunicate:
1. Become familiarwithotherpublichealth-relatedsocial networksites. These are generallyFacebookpagesused
by organizationsandbusinesses,whichare distinctfromFacebookprofilescreatedbyindividuals.
2. Ensure that there are adequate time andstaff resourcesavailabletosupportongoing
maintenance of the page inorderto keepcontentfreshandfansengaged.
3. Provide engagingpostsandcommunicationmaterial (e.g.,videos,quizzes,games,images,etc.) toactivelyand
repeatedlyengageusers.
4. Create a commentpolicy abouthowyouwill respondtoinappropriate comments.
5. Collectandstore comments inorderto documentthe conversationsyousparked.Thisdocumentationcanhelp
youevaluate yourefforts.
6. Promote yourFacebookpage onall yourcommunicationmaterials.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn(www.linkedin.com) isaprofessional socialmediasite thatallowspeople tostrengthenandextendtheir
existingnetworkof trustedcontacts.Bycreating an “online résumé”youcanstay in touchwithcolleaguesand
classmates,discoverprofessionalopportunities,andgetthe latestnewsandinsightsonhow toadvance your career.
 By sharingan “update”youcan reachout and informyourcontactsabout NHEW
Video Sharing
Online videosites,suchasYouTube (www.youtube.com),andVimeo (www.vimeo.com),allowpeople toshare their
videoswithothers,allowingthemto commentonwhattheysee.Videoscanbe producedinexpensivelywithawebcam
or camcorder andeditingsoftware andthen:

 Prepare content that is appropriate for your prioritypopulation. Try to avoidtechnical information,jargon,
and complicatedchartsandgraphs. Focusinsteadonproducingsimple,easy-to-follow “stories”withhuman
interestanda “call to action.”
 Keepvideosshort. Some siteshave limitsonhow longvideoscanbe.
 Promote your videosonall your communicationmaterials
 Create high-qualityvideobyusinga tripodtostabilize the camera,appropriate lighting,andaplug-in
microphone
 Choose appropriate music thatsuitsthe mood of the videoandis copyrightfree (unlessyouare payingtouse it)
 Include a URL at the endof the videowhere people canfindmore information
Instagram
Instagram(www.instagram.com)isanonline communityforumforsharingphotos. Theyare commonlyusedfor
reference,teaching,presentations—meaningwiderexposure toyoureventsandactivities. Choose “tags”(keywords)
for yourphotosthat will generate interest,suchas“National Health EducationWeek,”“healtheducation,” “Health
EducationSpecialist,”and“CHES/MCHES.” By sharingphotosof your NHEW eventsandactivities,youwill generate
interestandawarenessinthe workthatyoudo and gaina wideraudience foryourorganization.
SOPHE Uses the Following Social Media Platforms for NHEW:
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SocietyforPublicHealthEducation/
 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-for-public-health-education
 Twitter: https://twitter.com/SOPHEtweets
 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sophestats
 Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sophepics
 Instagram: http://instagram.com/sophegram
Alwaysobtainasignedphotorelease of anypersons — adults,youthorchildren — thatappearin photosand/orvideos.
7 Planning Steps to Communicating Your Message
Whichevermediaoutletyouchoose,youneedtobe clearon the purpose of yourmessage.Healtheducationand
promotionstrategiescanbe challengingtocommunicate toothers. Tosuccessfully communicateyourmessage,follow
these seven steps:
Step 1: Identifyyour key audiences.Youmay have differentkeymessagesforspecificpopulations anda general
message fora broaderpopulation.
Step 2: Choose a key message. Determineone ortwooverall goalsforyoumessage. Use the followingquestionsto
guide the developmentof youroverall strategy.
 What is the problemyou are highlighting? Example:The poorhealthandwellnessinthe communitydue to
tobacco use
 Is there a solution?If so, what is it? Example:Hiringhealtheducationspecialistsinschools,
colleges/universities,healthdepartments,communityorganizations,healthfacilities,worksites,andinsurance
companies toimplementevidence-basedtobaccocessationprograms

 What do you needto do or say to get the attentionof those who can make the solutionhappen? — Do you
wantto use the mediatoget yourmessage outby holdinganewsconference orbriefing? Ordoyou wantto
use a newsrelease and/oradvertisingtogetthe attentionof the public?
Once you have definedyouroverall goal,thenyoucandesignthe message thatyouwantto relaytoyour audience(s).
You wantyour message tobe simple andclear.Make sure youcommunicate:
 The problemyouare addressing
 Why yourintendedaudience shouldbe concernedwiththisproblem
 What shouldbe done aboutthe problem
Try to create a compellingmessage— one thatpeople canrelate to — share an individual’sstory,aperson affectedby
the problem.Byhumanizingthe message,yourissueswill have agreaterimpactonthe publicthanif you just use
statistics.
Possiblekey messagestopics include:
 Increasingawarenessof the variousroleshealtheducationspecialistscanplayinimprovingconsumerhealth
and wellness
 Providingsupportandresourcesforhealtheducationspecialists inall facets
 Encouragingmulti-sectorcollaboration,includinggovernmentagencies,community-basedorganizations,
schools,andbusinesses,whoseservicesanddecisionsaffect healtheducationspecialists’ provisions on
consumerhealthandwellness
Step 3: Get the facts
Researchthe facts thatsupportyour keymessage(s). Youcan communicate yourlocal messageswithfactsandstatistics
fromyour state and/orlocal community. Forexample,youmaywishtoinclude informationaboutthe incidence of
majorchronic diseasesinyourstate,city,orcounty. You may be able to provide examplesof local ordinancesorpolicies
that have alreadybeenadoptedinyourcommunity.Many healtheducation factscanbe foundthroughoutthistoolkit.
You can alsofindresourcesonthe SOPHE website.
Step 4: Decide which mediaoutletsyou want to utilize
The firststepin workingwiththe mediaistoresearchand identifythe newsoutletsyouwouldlike tocoveryourNHEW
initiative(s).Youcanidentifyanyreporterswhohave coveredissuesrelatedtoyourinitiativesinthe past.Tomake the
researcheasier,setupGoogle Alertsonline (www.google.com/alerts) sothatyouautomaticallyreceive updateson
relevantnewsstoriesinyourarea.Scan yourlocal newspaperdailyforhealthandcommunitystories.Rememberto
update yourmedialistregularlysothatyoucan use itfor outreachefforts duringthe year.
You can purchase mediacontactinformation fromdatabase servicessuchasCision(www.cision.com)or
BurrellesLuce(http://www.burrellesluce.com/Media_Outreach).
Once you’ve identifiedthese outletsandcontacts,buildanelectronicmedialistusingaprogramsuch as
MicrosoftExcel.Electroniclistsare easytoupdate,anduserscan merge contacts for effortlessdeliveryof materialsvia
e-mail ormail.
Include local andregional radio,television,printoutletsandkeyhealthjournalists.Alsoidentifyrelevantblogsandmake
contact withthe blogger(tostart yoursearch,check out http://blogsearch.google.com).JoinTwitterandfollowgroups

withrelatedmessagestonetworkandincrease visibility.
Step 5: Write a newsrelease
(Seepage21 forinformation on writing a newsrelease aswell asa templatefor NHEW)
 Include abackgroundpage about NHEW, healtheducation,andhealtheducationspecialists inyourcityor
region.The backgroundpage can include keyfacts,statistics,andinformationresources
 Identifyamemberof yourorganizationasa local expert,spokespersontoanswerquestions
 Identifystoriesof individualsinthe communitywho benefitfromemployingorworkingwithhealtheducation
specialists topitchtojournalistsandbloggersforcoverage
Step 6: Disseminate your informationto media outlets& prioritymedia targets
To distribute electronically,copyandpaste yournewsrelease (see page 21for tipson preparinga newsrelease) intothe
bodyof the email.Manyreporterswill notopenunsolicitedattachments.Make sure theycan clearlysee the headline
and firstparagraphwithoutenlargingorscrollingdowninthe email,asthiswill increase the likelihoodyourreleasewill
be seen. Personalize eachemail sothe reporterknowsit’snotamass message.Forexample,mentionastoryrecently
writtenbythe reporterthat caughtyour eye,orif you have had previousinteractionswithhim/her,mentionwhenand
where tojog his/hermemory.
If you wouldlike tosendyournewsrelease toalarge numberof recipients,thereare manyonline resourcesavailableto
helpyouincrease the awarenessandvisibilityof yourevent.Itisa bestpractice to include abrief coverletterwithyour
newsrelease. Some of these servicesmaycharge a fee,soit’simportantto researcheach optionbefore submittingyour
eventmaterials.Some mayofferdiscountsto nonprofitorganizations.Topdistributionsitesinclude:
 BusinessWire (www.businesswire.com)
 PR Newswire(www.prnewswire.com)
 PR Log (www.prlog.org)
 24/7 PressRelease (www.24-7pressrelease.com)
 PRWeb(http://www.prweb.com/)
Some free pressrelease distributionsitesinclude:
 Free PressRelease (www.free-press-release.com)
 PR (www.pr.com)
 1888 PressRelease (www.1888pressrelease.com)
Step 7: Outcome Evaluation
Outcome evaluationanswersthe question,“how effectivewasthe campaignatproducingitsintended resultsamong
the audience?”Outcome evaluationitemsmight include:“Are more membersof mycommunityreportingthattheyare
knowledgeable of the benefitsof HealthEducationSpecialistsinthe community?”If evaluationseemsoverwhelmingor
too complicated,donotforgetthatthere are many resourcesavailable.Considerenlistingthe helpof alocal evaluator,a
graduate studentinthe field,volunteerinterns,orthe servicesof professionallytrainedpublichealthevaluators.
In addition,there are avarietyof Internetresourcesthatyoucan access:

 National Networkof Librariesof Medicine:OutreachEvaluationResource Center - http://nnlm.gov/evaluation/
 CDC EvaluationWorkingGroup - http://www.cdc.gov/eval/
 CommunityTool Box (fromthe Universityof Kansas) - http://ctb.ku.edu/
 W.K.KelloggFoundationEvaluationToolkit - https://www.wkkf.org/resource-directory/resource/2010/w-k-
kellogg-foundation-evaluation-handbook
News Release
Newsreleases,orpressreleases, are one- ortwo-page announcementssenttothe mediasotheywill coveryourstory
or event. A news release should:
 Containapproximately500 words,formattedinshortparagraphs
 Use an invertedpyramidstyle of writing,meaningthe mostimportantinformationisatthe top,
filteringdowntothe less crucial detailstowardthe end
 Include aquote fromyour organization’sspokespersonorkeyeventfigure.If youare
partneringwithanotherorganization,theirspokespersonshouldalsobe quoted
 Close the newsrelease withaparagraphthat providesaconcise overview of yourprogram, includingwhere to
findadditional informationandyourcontactinformation
How to Format a News Release
 Contact information. Atthe top of the release,putthe contactname, numberandemail addressof the staff
personthe pressshouldcontactto get more information.Thisisusuallylocatedonthe topright-handcorner.
 Release date.This tellsthe reporterwhenthe informationinthe release canbe publishedorbroadcast.The
release canbe for immediaterelease tothe public,inwhichyoucanput “For immediate release”onthe top.
The reporterscan alsoholdthe informationuntil acertaindate.Forthis,youwouldneedtoput “Embargoed
until (releasedate and/ortime).”The release date isusuallylocatedonthe topleft-handcorner.
 Headline.Use a concise andinformative headlinethatsummarizesthe essence of the newsrelease.Thiswillrun
underthe contact informationandabove the bodyof the release. Keepheadlinesshort.Use asub-headto
provide more details.
 Body. Alwaysbeginthe firstsentence inthe followingformat:city,state (orcountry),month,day,andyear.
Thenyou can discussthe “who,what,where,whenandwhy”of yourstory. Afteryourconcludingparagraph,
include ### to indicate the endof yournews release.
 About. Include yourorganization’sboilerplate withalinktoyourwebsite andadditional resources.
When to Send a News Release
Newsreleasesare issued several daysinadvance, the dayof the event,orimmediatelyfollowing anevent.
A sample news release appears on the following page.

Contact: [Name, Phone, Email Address]
For Immediate Release - Date
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States
National Health Education Week - October 17-21 - leads awareness efforts that many chronic diseases
could be prevented, delayed, or alleviated, through simple lifestyle changes.
(City, State) – Chronic diseases can be disabling and reduce a person’s quality of life, especially if left undiagnosed or
untreated. Chronic diseases are ongoing, generally incurable illnesses or conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, cancer,
and diabetes. These diseases areoften preventable, and frequently manageable through early detection, improved diet,
exercise, and treatment therapy.
During October 17-21, health education specialists and public health advocates across the country involved with the Society
for Public Health Education (SOPHE) will work to raise public awareness of the importance of exercise, good nutrition, and
their role in the prevention of chronic diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases
are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States — 133 million Americans or 45 percent of the population
have at least one chronic disease.
In 2016, more than half of adults aged18 years or older did not meet recommendations for aerobic exercise or physical
activity. More than one-third of adolescents and 38 perfect of adults said they ate fruit less than once a day, while 38 percent
of adolescents and 23 percent of adults said they ate vegetables less than once a day.
Health education specialists work in a variety of professional settings to educate individuals and the public on the prevention
of chronic diseases, in the hopes of reducing the cost spent on medical treatment and improving the health status of
individuals, communities, states, and the nation.
[Insert quote] says [Name/Title/Organization]
For example: “Healtheducation specialists offer knowledge, skills, and training that complement the policy work we do at
Environmental Company Place” says Anita Maier, CHES, Advocacy Director at Environmental Company Place. “Our health
credentialed employees collect and analyze data that is essential for communicating with policy makers about changes that
will createhealthier environments for people where they live, work and play.”
To raise awareness of the importance of Health Education Specialists and the vital role they have and continue to play in
promoting the health of [nation/state/community], [your organization/company/program] is [describe the
event/activity/promotion being conducted].
About National Health Education Week (NHEW)
NHEW is celebrated annually during the third week of October and focuses national attention on a major public health issue, p rovides
public education, and improves consumer understanding of health education’s role in promoting the public’s health. NHEW is
recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
About SOPHE
The Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a non-profit professional organization founded in 1950 to provide global leadership
to the profession of health education and health promotion and to promote the health of society. SOPHE’s 4,000 international and
chapter members’ work in various public and private organizations to advance health education theory and research, develop disease
prevention and health promotion programs, and promote public policies conducive to health. For more information, go to
www.sophe.org.
About Organization/Program/School Name
Insert boilerplate statement
###

Proclamation
A proclamationisa formal announcementmade byalocal cityor countygovernmentona topicimportantto the
membersof the community.Issuingaproclamationisa greatway to raise awareness aboutthe importance of investing
inhealtheducation specialists.
How to Format a Proclamation
Rememberthe proclamationshouldentice others,sochoose effectivewordsandadjectivestostrengthenyour
proclamation. Compose “Whereas”statementsstatingwhyyouare makingthe proclamation.These statementsshould
make it clearwhyyou are proclaimingacertainday or event.Skipaspace betweeneach“Whereas”statementinwhich
youmake the actual proclamationitself.Clearlystate whyyouare makingthisproclamation. Concludewitha
“Therefore”statementinwhich youmake the actual statementitselfanduse the word“Proclaim”to make yourpoint
clear.
When to Send the Proclamation
If you are holdinganeventforNHEW,promote and distribute the proclamation.Youcanalsohave the proclamation
displayedatanewsconference,event,oryouroffice. Postthe proclamationonyourwebsite. Here’sanexample:
National Health Education Week
Call for Education and Action to Promote the Importance of Health Education Specialists in the Community
WHEREAS, There are more than 66,000 Health Education Specialists workingin the United States; and
WHEREAS, 250 academic programs in colleges and universitiesprepareHealth Education Specialistsfor contemporary workplace
demands; and
WHEREAS, Health Education Specialists promote,maintain,and improve individual and community health; and
WHEREAS, Health Education Specialists planning,implementing, monitoring,and evaluatingprograms to encourage health lifestyles,
policies,and environments;and
WHEREAS, Health education reduces the costs spent on medical treatment; and
WHEREAS, Health education improves the health status of individuals,communities,states and the nation and enhances the quality
of lifefor all peopleand reduces costly premature deaths and disability,and
WHEREAS, Health education specialists offer knowledge, skills and trainingthatcan assistindividualsin understanding the ACA
provisionsand linkingtheuninsured with health insuranceoptions availablein their states,and
WHEREAS, The [name of chapter or organization] is committed to promoting the health and safety of the public;and
WHEREAS, In celebration of 2015 National Health Education Week, government agencies,community-based organizations,health
careproviders,schools,and businesses areessential to providinghealth education,improving healthcarequality and patientsafety,
and emphasizingprimary and preventive carelinked with community prevention services.
THEREFORE be it,
RESOLVED, That the [name of governor, mayor, elected official,or health commissioner] of the [name of state, city] do hereby
proclaimOctober 19-23,2015, as the Society for Public Health Education’s (SOPHE) National Health Education Week. All individuals,
organizations,businesses,and communities areencouraged to help raiseawareness about health education specialists,the
resources and skillsHealth Education Specialists can provide,and the importance of a Health Education Specialistin creatinga
healthier future for all.

The Role of a Health Education Specialist
Healtheducationspecialistswork withhealthcare providers,policymakers,humanresource personnel,andmanyother
professionals topromote healthylifestylesandpreventand manage diseasebyempoweringindividualstomake
informeddecisionsabouttheirhealth.
The resultof healtheducationspecialists’workimprovesthe healthstatusandqualityof lifeof individualsand
communitiesandreduces costlypremature deathsanddisability.
Learn more.
Where Do Health EducationSpecialists Work?
Accordingto the U.S. Departmentof Labor’sBureauof Health Statistics(2016),there are about57,020 healtheducation
specialistsworkinginthe followingsettings:
 K-12 Schoolsto helpstudentsadopthealthful behaviorstherebyimprovingacademicperformance,aswellas
withimprovingthe healthof faculty/staffandparents (CDC,2014)
 College/Universityhealtheducationprograms to train future healtheducationspecialists andtoconduct
researchon effective programs,policiesandinterventions
 Colleges& UniversityHealthCenters tohelpyoungadultsimprove theirhealthandreduce riskybehaviors
 Hospitals,Clinicsand Health Plans to promote healthylifestyles,helppatientsandfamiliesrecoverfromillness
and educate patientsonmanagingchronicdiseases
 Municipal/County/State PublicHealth Departments & Militaryto promote and protectthe healthof all
populationslivingintheirgeographicareaandachieve publichealthgoals
 Nonprofit/VoluntaryOrganizations to provide educationandservicesrelatedtoaparticular disease orpriority
population
 Business/Industryto identifycommonhealthproblemsamongemployeesandcreate incentiveprogramsto
encourage employeestoadopthealthybehaviors
Where Are HealthEducation Specialists Trained?
More than 250 professional preparationprogramsaroundthe countryprovide formal degreesinschool andcommunity
healtheducationatthe baccalaureate,masteranddoctoral levels.Manyhealtheducationspecialistsholdmaster’s
degreesfromschoolsandprogramsin education, publichealth orhealthpromotion.Curriculamayinclude aunique
combinationof instructionfromthe behavioral/social,epidemiological, environmental,andbiomedical sciences,aswell
as pedagogy, healthadministrationandpublicpolicy. (NCHEC,2008). Some communitycollegesalsooffercoursesin
healtheducation.
What Is a CertifiedHealth EducationSpecialist (CHES) andMaster CertifiedHealth
EducationSpecialist (MCHES)?
The CertifiedHealthEducationSpecialist(CHES) andMasterCertifiedHealthEducationSpecialist(MCHES) designation
signifythatanindividual hassuccessfullypassedanational competency-basedexamdemonstratingskill withand
knowledge of the SevenAreasof Responsibility.

 Area I: AssessNeeds, AssetsandCapacityforHealthEducation
 Area II: PlanHealthEducation
 Area III: ImplementHealthEducation
 Area IV: ConductEvaluationandResearchRelatedtoHealthEducation
 Area V: AdministerandManage HealthEducation
 Area VI: Serve as a HealthEducationResource Person
 Area VII: Communicate andAdvocate forHealthandHealthEducation
These SevenAreasof Responsibility containacomprehensivesetof competenciesand sub-competenciesdefiningthe
role of an entry- and advanced-level healtheducationspecialist.The CHESexamreflectsthe entry-level sub-
competencies,whereasthe MCHESexamisbasedon the advanced-levelsub-competencies.The certificationisprovided
by the National CommissionforHealthEducation.
Learn more aboutCHES and/or MCHES.
Healtheducatorsare oftensupportedby community healthworkers(CHW) because theyare trustedmembersof the
communitiesthatreceivepublichealthprogramsandservices.
Learn more aboutthe complementaryrolesandtrainingof healtheducation specialistsand community healthworkers.
Why Are HealthEducation Specialists Vital to the Nation?
Healtheducationimprovesthe healthstatusof individuals,communities,states,andthe nation;enhancesthe qualityof
life forall people;andreducescostlyprematuredeathsanddisability.Byfocusingonprevention,healtheducation
reducesthe costs(bothfinancial andhuman) spentonmedical treatment. Chronicconditions,suchasdiabetes,heart
disease,andcancer,consume more than75 percent of the $2.2 trillionspentonhealthcare inthe UnitedStateseach
year– the equivalentof about2.5 economic“bailout” packages(CDC,2013). Spendingaslittle as$10 perpersonon
provenpreventive interventions couldsave the countryover$16 billioninjustfive years (RWJF,2008).
Addressingasingle riskfactor(e.g.,smoking) influencesoutcomesacrossmultiple diseases,frompretermbirthtolung
disease andcancer.Addressingobesityintoday'schildrenaltersthe prevalence of manydiseases(e.g.heartdisease,
cancer, diabetes,arthritis) thatmaybe encountereddecadeslater (Pfizer,2013).
Healtheducationspecialistsofferknowledge,skills,andtrainingthatcomplementthose of healthproviders,policy
makers,educational experts,humanresource personnel andmanyotherprofessionalswhose workimpactshuman
health. Healthliteracyisalarge determinantof healthstatusandwithoutthesecomponentsofferedbyhealth
educationspecialists,membersineachcommunitycanbe greatlyaffected.

Advocacy Matters
Leverage Policy toPromote HealthEducation
Usingpolicyto change systemsand environmentsisone of the mostpowerful waysthatwe ashealtheducation
specialistsorotherprofessionalscan improve the nation’shealth. Withor withoutus,policymakerswill make a
multitude of decisionsinthe nextfew yearsthatwill alterthe course of ourhealthsystemsandcommunities. SOPHE’s
2015 advocacy prioritiesare:
 PatientProtectionandAffordable Care Act
o RetainPreventionandPublicHealth
o Seekopportunitiesfor3rdparty reimbursementforprofessionallytrainedhealtheducators
 AppropriationsforCDC'sSchool HealthBranch
 Reauthorizationof the ElementaryandSecondaryEducationAct(ESEA)
o SupportSen. Tom Udall (D-NM) andRep.Marcia Fudge (D-OH) PHYSICALActbillsthatelevate health
and physical educationtocore subjects
 Healthequitypolicies,programsorpracticesthataddresshealth,social,economic,environmental andother
factors thatimprove healthacrossall populations
 Promote the healtheducation professionasacritical componenttoaddressingthe healthcrisisin oursociety
 Healthliteracy
 Tobacco preventionandcontrol
 Environmental health/emergencypreparedness
As healtheducation specialistsandpublichealthprofessionals,we have useful dataandotherinformationaboutthe
healthof our communities.We know whichpoliciesare proventoreduce the burdenof preventable diseasesand
injuries.We are skilled informulatingrealisticpolicysolutionsand educatingstakeholders.Thisexpertisewillhave
limitedimpactunlesswe become more effective incommunicatingwithpolicymakers onnational andstate legislative
issuesrelatedtothe latestpoliciesandresearchincommunity healthandwellness.
Take Action
The followingare afewtipsonhow youcan get involvedandeducate policymakersaboutthe importance of healthand
wellness:
 Share NHEW withyour family,friendsand colleaguesandencourage themtocontacttheirmembersof Congress
insupportof healtheducationspecialists
 Schedule ameetingwith yourhome district’s membersof Congress todiscussthe importantrole of health
educationspecialistsinimplementing programsin the community
 Sendan email toyourmembersof Congressaskingthemtosupportpublic healthpromotionandeducation.
Locate yourelectedofficialsat:
 HealthEducationAdvocate Index: http://healtheducationadvocate.org/hea-summit/legislative-resources/
 U.S. Senate:http://www.senate.gov/
 U.S. House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
 Submitpubliccommentstoregulatoryissuesandsignonto lettersthatsupport publichealthandwellness

More Advocacy Information
 Advocacy Toolkit (SOPHE): http://www.sophe.org/advocacy_matters.cfm
 Health Education Advocate: http://www.healtheducationadvocate.org
 Tips for MeetingwithYour Members of Congress(APHA):
https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/advocacy/phact/phact_actionkit_2014.ashx
 Health Education Profession:http://nchec.org/credentialing/profession/
 NDD United:http://publichealthfunding.org/index.php/ndd_united1/

Resources
Thissection hasbeenmovedtothe SOPHE website. Youcan finda varietyof resourcesrelatedto healtheducation
specialists andhealtheducationincludingwebsitesandlinkstoPDFsthat mayhelpyouto planand execute aNHEW
eventathttp://www.sophe.org/NHEW.cfm
Inclusioninthe resourcessectionshouldnotbe construedasan endorsementbySOPHE. The listisintendedtobe a
samplingof knownmaterialsandorganizationspertinentto healtheducation andhealthreform thatcanbe usedto
educate yourself andyourcommunity.Since the organizationslistedmaydiscontinue orrevisematerialsfromtime to
time,all of the itemslistedmaynotbe readilyavailable.

NHEW 2016 Evaluation
You may complete the evaluation online at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NHEW2016
All deletions or corrections should be brought to the attention of:
Attn: NHEW 2016 Correction
info@sophe.org

References
BakerD.W., GazmararianJ.A.,WilliamsMV,ScottT, ParkerRM, GreenD, RenJ, Peel J. (2002). Functional healthliteracy
and the riskof hospital admissionamongMedicare managedcare enrollees. American Journalof PublicHealth.
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Bureauof Labor Statistics,U.S.Departmentof Labor.(2015, March 25). May 2014 national occupational employment
and wage estimatesunitedstates.Retrievedfrom http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
Bureauof Labor Statistics,U.S.Departmentof Labor.(2014, January8). Occupational OutlookHandbook,2014-15
Edition, HealthEducationSpecialistsandCommunityHealthWorkers. Retrievedfrom
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm
Bureauof Labor Statistics,U.S.Departmentof Labor.(2015, June 24). Americantime use survey - 2014 results.Retrieved
fromhttp://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/atus.pdf
College of PublicHealth,HealthPromotionandBehavior.(n.d.). WhatisHealthPromotion&Behavior?. Retrievedfrom
http://www.publichealth.uga.edu/hpb/what-health-promotion-behavior
CDC. (2013, October23). RisingHealthCare Costsare Unsustainable.Retrievedfrom
http://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/businesscase/reasons/rising.html
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