Going Viral: Strengthening Communications and Enhancing Service Delivery through Social Media

Objective: To provide audience members with an outline on how to utilize social media as a method to broaden outreach services in the community to increase enrollment, organize and communicate ideas and information to larger audiences, and actively engage the public and Healthy Start, Inc. participants on relevant maternal child health topics. Background: The program uses a multidimensional approach for service implementation in conjunction with social media applications, forums, and web-based enrollment services to provide the community and participants with the information necessary to lead healthy lives. Methods: Audience will receive an interactive demonstration, as well as program strategies and outcomes resulting from data analysis. Results: Using social media allows the program to educate more members, with over 350 individuals signed up to receive updates. The most potent means of getting information out to mothers is still through their peers, and social media allows them to network through a simple and accessible medium. Web-based services like enrollment requests on the Healthy Start, Inc. website now accounts for 18% of total enrollments, which isn't a surprise considering for younger women “social networking is literally woven into their day to day existence.” Also, considering the heavy mobile phone usage by mothers, Healthy Start, Inc. has implemented the a new program for its participants to be able to target more women. Lessons Learned: Audience will receive best practice model concepts including program design, specific tools and examples, evaluative assessment items and take home packets outlining the poster session.