|
Maternal and Child Health Messages
Tips and Sample Core Messages for Use in Outreach to Policymakers and the Media
When maternal and child health programs speak with unified messages, we are more likely to be heard. As a consumer, you know that you are more likely to act on a message if it is presented clearly, frequently and from multiple sources. Elected officials (and their staff members), predictably, act the same way. AMCHP recently interviewed a group of elected officials, their health-policy staff and staff members of associations serving elected officials and health officials and found that these individuals are interested in learning more about maternal and child health organizations and the families they serve. However, the information needs to easy to access and understand.
A template for members on ideas and an examples
To help our members deliver better unified messages, we’ve put together the following core messages to use as an example or template. These important points show by example a way to pull together facts to present to policymakers, the media and other important decision-makers or conduits of information. Using national and local facts can demonstrate the need and success of maternal and child health programs. If you don’t have the needed data, pointing to the success of another state’s program can powerfully show that results are achievable and should be replicated. A few tips on writing fact sheets are also included.
Information in the comment boxes is provided to show why certain facts are included or presented in a certain way. You can modify or add state and local data to suit your programs needs. Once you’ve completed your core message sheet, you can use it as a fact sheet for meetings or inclusion in press kits. Additionally, language used can be lifted for use in brochures, presentations, correspondence or whatever your needs may be.
Quick Tips
- Avoid being redundant. Don’t say the same thing twice, in a slightly different way. (See the idea?) Ideally, put your documents away for a day – or have someone who has never read your piece take a look – then go at it with a hatchet, chopping away extraneous ideas, examples and words.
- Show results. Tell what happened or what will happen. The intricacies of funding streams, program development or data collection can usually be left for future document or discussions, if needed. (An
opening for future discussion is often a good thing.) If an example doesn’t have a result (hard data or anecdotal) is it worth including?
- Be consistent. Headlines subheads and bullets (when making a list) should all start the same way. Verbs with verbs, nouns with nouns, etc.
- Stay active. Passive writing, “Bob got hit by Jim,” takes up more space than active writing, “Jim hit Bob.”
- Stay positive. Try to avoid the word “not.” Your writing will be more streamlined. For example, by not using “not,” your writing will not be as complex. Additionally, sometimes readers inadvertently skip words – and missing a “not” can change the meaning of your work, entirely.
- Avoid jargon and lots of acronyms.
- Use blank space and bullets to your advantage. Bullets make information easy to find. Blank space gives the eyes a rest.
- Change fonts and use bold or italics to highlight information. But beware, too many changes are
distracting and unappealing. Stick to two or three fonts in one document – and be consistent with how
you use them. For example, use Arial for heads and Times for body copy; bold for first sentences, italics or underline for emphasis. Keep the font size easily readable; a 12 point, serif font usually works well.
- Stick to one page. Sometimes two – if absolutely necessary. And the pages must have reasonable space for margins, headers and footers. If you use more than one page, number your pages and use footers in case pages get separated.
- In addition to your fact sheet or core messages, you will want to share family stories. People want data – but they also want to hear about how programs can change lives for the better. Conversely, if avoidable tragedies have occurred because of insufficient funds or services, they need to hear about it.
|
