The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59821

Jane Ellery, MA, College of Public Health, Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-991-6270, jellery@hsc.usf.edu, Gwendolyn P. Quinn, PhD, College of Medicine, DIO, University of South Florida, MRC Cancont MDC 44, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, and Terrance L. Albrecht, PhD, College of Medicine/DIO, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MDC 44/MRC CANCONT, Tampa, FL 33612.

The National Training Collaborative for Social Marketing (NTCSM) is working with social marketing professionals throughout the United States to develop a network of Social Marketing Specialists to help provide social marketing technical assistance. The training provided by NTCSM has evolved over the past several years based on the needs expressed by the social marketing community. Established in 1997, the initial focus was to develop and pilot test a training curriculum. This resulted in a comprehensive, face-to-face training program called “Thinking Like a Marketer.” This program was delivered to health directors and health promotion practitioners throughout the United States. The next phase of the program consisted of developing an electronic version of the training program and moving from training practitioners to use social marketing to a train-the-trainer model. Currently, NTCSM works primarily with established social marketing practitioners, and the training focuses on establishing standardized social marketing practices within the group and on honing technical assistance skills. Individuals apply in teams to become Social Marketing Specialists. Successful applicants undergo a year-long training program that consists of face-to-face workshops, monthly conference calls, ongoing electronic discussions, and periodic (approximately bi-monthly) e-mail receipt of social marketing tips. In addition to sharing highlights from the existing training curriculum and resources, a presentation of the anticipated future direction for development will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• 1. Describe the evolution of the training provided by the National Training Collaborative for Social Marketing.
• 2. Discuss the training methods used in the development of the Social Marketing Specialist network.
• 3. Recognize the importance of listening to your audience in the development of training programs.

Keywords: Training, Social Marketing

Related Web page: www.ntcsm.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment