Pink 1: Facilitating Communication within the Public Health ... - HRSA

Pink 1: Facilitating Communication within the Public Health System
Cathy Hess (F) Joan Wightkin (Chief)
Janice Hicks (R)
Workshop Session C:
Critical MCH issue/challenge:
The need to develop positive messages to change behavior and change communities. Message
development should (anticipate and avoid negative consequences, e.g., stigma)
What are our key strategies for addressing this issue/challenge? (Think futuristically and
be creative!)
1. Support discussions at local, regional, s tate and federal level to define what MCH is and what
it should be in the future. These discussions should include partners that are also working toward
MCH goals. The goal of this strategy is to assure buy in by th eMCH community
2. Develop marketing tools such as logos and messages that can be utilized by the MCH
community at all levels. These tools should serve to unify and strengthen the MCH community
and clarify to key audiences exactly what MCH does in the broadest and most comprehensive
way.
3. MCHB should support capacity building for marketing at state and local levels for MCH and
program/service specific messages and information. This may include training for both MCH
and public information staff and dedicated resources similar to SSDI to help build capacity in
marketing for all grantees within states.
Who are key partners external to the MCH family?
Partners that we work closely to achieve MCH goals such as families, public agencies, health
professionals and providers should be involved in all aspects of the plan development and
implementation other key stake holders such as businesses, policy makers should be engaged at
key appropriate points in the process. Also include international and tribal partners.
Additional comments:

Pink 1: Facilitating Communication within the Public Health System
A By-product of these strategies is education of participants in process and better mapping of
who are MCH partners.
Assure that entire marketing plan is culturally and inquistically appropriate.