Telling your program's story: Lessons learned from capacity building efforts

The Division of Oral Health (DOH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently supports 12 states and one territory to strengthen their oral health programs as well as to document best practices in developing infrastructure and capacity. To promote best practices in systematically collecting and disseminating success stories, a workbook for generating stories was developed. Success stories can be delivered in numerous formats, with varying levels of evidence to show movement in the program's progress over time, its value, and impact. More importantly, success stories serve as a vehicle for engaging potential participants, stakeholders, decision-makers, partners, and funders. With a system of regular data collection and practice, this tool can become a powerful instrument to spread the word about the program. This presentation will focus on defining what a success story is, discuss types of success stories, and describe methods for systematically collecting and using success stories to promote a public health program and related policy decisions. Discussion will include use of the workbook, lessons learned in conducting a stakeholder forum for collecting success stories, as well as how to create a 10-second “sound-bite” story. Developing success stories, can involve and engage the entire program staff. Collecting success stories affords the opportunity to regularly step back and celebrate program achievements, both large and small. Engaging in regular data collection and story development ensures that this powerful tool is ready to use for that moment of opportunity to best demonstrate a program's progress and value.