253681 Health Communication Goes Social: Lessons from CDC Social Media

Monday, October 31, 2011: 8:30 AM

Jessica Schindelar, MPH , Division of News and Electronic Media, Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
     
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses social media tools, including Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, YouTube, and blogs, to improve the reach of health messages, increase access to content and foster engagement with key audiences. CDC's strategic use of social media allows the agency to effectively communicate health information to empower individuals to make healthier and safer decisions. This presentation will provide a brief overview of CDC's social media channels and tools and discuss their importance for public health communications, as well as share data, examples and lessons learned from CDC's experience over the past five years.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how CDC is using social media tools for public health communications. 2. Identify three specific methods for engaging with priority audiences through social media. 3. Assess key methods and outcomes for evaluating social media efforts.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: For the past two years, I have served as Health Communication Specialist with the Social Media Team in the Division of News and Electronic Media, Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this role, I provide expertise and leadership in coordination with CDC communications staff to strategically design, plan, implement and evaluate the integration of social media strategies and tactics to support public health communications
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Social and Mobile Media to Improve Community and Individual Health (HCWG)
See more of: Public Health Education and Health Promotion