Communications Toolkit Overview

Purpose

The purpose of the Preventing Chronic Diseases Communications Toolkit is to:

  • Increase awareness of the Department of Health Division of Chronic Disease Prevention (DCDP) programs and initiatives that are key to effective chronic disease prevention, early detection, and control.
  • Highlight how chronic diseases (such as heart disease, asthma, cancer, and diabetes) are among the most common and costly health problems in NYS and ways to reduce the burden of chronic diseases and their associated risk factors.
  • Demonstrate DCDP’s success in preventing and reducing chronic diseases in NYS.

The Communications Toolkit is to be used by DCDP staff, contractors, and partners to:

  • Build relationships with media;
  • Establish community champions;
  • Garner earned media coverage; and
  • Educate legislators.

Contents

The toolkit contains the following documents:

  1. Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Wise Investment for New York State (PDF) – a two-page fact sheet providing an overview of the burden of chronic diseases in NYS and successful prevention, early detection, and management strategies used by DCDP’s chronic disease programs.
  2. Preventing Chronic Diseases, Supporting Health and Healthy Communities (PDF) – a PowerPoint presentation that provides more detail on the burden of chronic diseases in NYS and successful prevention, early detection, and management strategies used by DCDP’s chronic disease programs.
  3. Data Sources and Tools – a compilation of current data sources, reports, and teaching tools to help users find the most up-to-date chronic disease data available on the DOH website.
  4. Earned Media 101 (PDF) – an overview of what earned media is and ways to increase your chances of securing coverage.
  5. Writing a Press Release (PDF) – a description of the elements of a press release and best practices for writing one along with a sample.
  6. Writing a Letter to the Editor (PDF) – a description of the elements of a letter to the editor and best practices for writing one along with two samples.
  7. Social Media 101 (PDF) – an overview of social media and examples of social media sites along with best practices for writing social media.

Use

DCDP staff, contractors, and partners are encouraged to use the fact sheet, slide set, and data resources to assist with the development of content for various communications tools, such as letters to the editor and press releases. The remaining documents in the tool kit provide guidance on how to write these documents to advance health communication campaigns, garner earned media, and educate the public, providers, partners, and key stakeholders.