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

Abstract #64627

Ileene Mills Yashpeh, Wendy Gould, Jennifer Parr, MPH, and Louise Schoggen. Office of the Medical Director, New York State Department of Health /AIDS Institute, 5 Penn Plaza, 1st Florr, New York, NY 10001, 212-268-6164, jlp01@health.state.ny.us

Purpose: To develop innovative HIV consumer educational materials for a statewide or other wide geographic audience. Approach/ Methodology: In 2000, the Materials Initiative of our agency formed the Materials Development Standing Committee (MDSC). The committee includes high-level representatives of various programs and sets priorities for HIV materials development in the state. The MDSC appoints workgroups to engage staff with expertise in the content areas and with the intended target audiences in developing new materials. Workgroups have been convened to address the materials needs of adolescents, African-American women, Hispanic women, incarcerated persons, and nutrition and housing needs of people living with HIV. Workgroup members and Materials Initiative staff work on all aspects of development. Focus group input is obtained throughout development. Results: Numerous materials have been developed through the MDSC process, including nine English and eight Spanish fact cards for adolescents, brochures targeting African-American and Hispanic women, a nutrition booklet for people living with HIV/AIDS and a booklet on HIV and hepatitis C co-infection. Workgroups are developing additional materials for adolescents and African-American and Hispanic women, a booklet on housing for people living with HIV and materials for incarcerated persons. Lessons Learned: Involvement of members of the target audience and key staff led to the development of popular materials, ordered frequently, in unprecedented quantities for use in communities across the state. Oversight of materials development by the MDSC aided in the identification of needed funds, allocation of limited staffing resources, and problem-solving to ensure the timely flow of materials development.

Learning Objectives:

"At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Identify five barriers to communicating effectively with statewide or other wide geographic audiences and promoting healthy behaviors through print materials.
• Articulate three strategies to overcome barriers in reaching intended target audiences through the development of print materials.
• Apply or adapt the MDSC process to fit a program and audience in their own community

Keywords: Health Education,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.