APA Public Education Campaign Campaign Event Program Guidelines (June 2006)
by Public Relations Staff
Below you will find updated guidelines that include specific examples of what should be included in any proposals. This new program supersedes the previous APA Ad/Event Partnership Program. In the APA Public Education Campaign (PEC) Program, APA will offer state, provincial and local psychological associations and APA divisions the opportunity to submit proposals for APA to conduct a Public Education Campaign (PEC) Event.
If APA approves a proposal, APA would plan, administer and fund a PEC event in the state, province or territory including advertising and promoting the event and conducting the event itself in collaboration with the local PEC coordinator.
Please note, the available funds for these events will be limited, so proposals will be considered on a first come, first served basis.
This program is intended to enhance your ability to do grassroots outreach using APA’s Public Education Campaign by helping to support local public education campaign activities. Partnership proposals should include a detailed description of public education campaign activities already conducted in the state, territory or province that would support the APA event.
Please contact the public relations department of the Practice Directorate at 202 336 5898 if you are considering submitting a partnership proposal. The public relations staff can also answer any questions you might have and provide ideas and feedback for your overall plan.
We hope that you will take full advantage of this opportunity, and we look forward to hearing about your plans to help educate the public on the value of psychological services.
APA PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
Public Education Campaign Event Program
Purpose:
One of the foundation strategies of the APA public education campaign is that campaign activities at the national level will be complemented and supplemented by similar activities at the state and local levels. These campaign activities should include all of the elements of the national campaign such as media relations and community outreach activities such as speaker presentations and town hall type meetings, exhibiting at health events, outreach to influential and allied groups, and advertising placements and should include messages that amplify APA’s Public Education Campaign message.
Public Education Campaign materials and technical assistance are available to help state, provincial and local psychological associations, and APA divisions conduct any of the campaign elements. However, recognizing that conducting a PEC event can be costly, APA is offering the Public Education Campaign Event Program. Specifically, APA will consider proposals to fund Public Education Campaign events, advertise and promote the event, and implement the event. The total dollar amount, equaling 100 percent, must be used for the PEC event and/or the event’s promotion.
Note, this must be an APA PEC event and not another public education event, i.e. it must reinforce and not compete with the messages already being used in APA’s PEC. As part of the PEC, the event and materials distributed at the event must be free to the public.
Program Requirements:
1.1 To be eligible to participate in the Public Education Campaign Event Program, state, local and provincial psychological associations or divisions must prepare and submit to APA a proposal which should include:
• a detailed description of the planned event, including proposed audience description (age, etc.)
• proposed date for the event (note: APA must have at least two month’s notice to plan an event)
• budget for the proposed event (see below for specific details)
1.2 Since the campaign cannot be run effectively with a single Public Education Campaign event alone, all program participants will be required to implement at least two other campaign activities concurrent with the partnership program. Examples of concurrent activities include, but are not limited to:
• Launch a proactive media relations program with local print and electronic outlets on family relations issues.
• Visit businesses in the area to discuss work stress and offer to do a series of presentations/”brown bag lunches” on the topic.
• Coordinate outreach activities, forums and other events around the Road to Resilience initiative.
• Conduct Warning Signs youth and parent forums.
• Plan a town hall meeting series at the local college about mental health care.
• Staff X number of screening sites for National Alcohol Screening Day in X,Y,Z cities.
• Conduct outreach to physician groups or corporate executives about the value of psychological services.
• Provide a speaker's bureau for senior centers, civic groups about mind/body issues.
Program participants are encouraged to contact Luana Bossolo in the Practice Directorate’s public relations and communications office prior to drafting the proposal to both inform APA of your intentions to apply and to get feedback on your plan, 202-336-5899.
1.3 Program participants must incorporate the public education campaign themes and materials into these activities, as well as the underlying theme about the value of psychology. In addition, materials generated as part of the campaign and distributed by APA need to be a part of the activities. A detailed description of activities should be also included in the proposal.
Program Specifications:
2.1 If a psychological association or division meets all program requirements, APA will initiate an event agreement in which APA works in collaboration with the PEC coordinator to plan, promote, implement and fund a Public Education Campaign event. Those providing a proposal must have found the costs for the planned event location including the cost of space, food and drink, and parking if applicable.
2.2 The PEC Coordinator or someone designated by the PEC Coordinator must be available to do timely “legwork” for APA for tasks that must be conducted locally such as obtaining permits.
2.3 SPPAs, divisions, et al may submit no more than one PEC Event Program proposal per calendar year.
2.3 The local organization may have its name included in the event’s promotional materials and signage but APA’s name MUST be included in all promotional materials and signage.
2.4 The Public Education Campaign Event Program proposals will be accepted until available funds are depleted.
Submission of Proposals
3.1 Proposals for the program should be submitted to:
Luana Bossolo
American Psychological Association
Practice Directorate
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
ATTN: Public Education Campaign Event Program
