N D E P logo - link to National Diabetes Education Program   National Diabetes Education Program
ndep.nih.gov campaigns
 

Getting a Campaign Started

 

The National Diabetes Education Program has produced copyright-free educational materials to accompany our campaigns. Below are ideas on how to use our materials, get others involved, and grab media attention. Use this page as a starting point, add your own local flair, and keep at it. The possibilities are endless!

 

Read and distribute our materials.

Use the NDEP materials that work for your audience.

Act Locally.

Work with your State Diabetes Control Program

What other organizations can help?

Work with local media outlets.

Link your website to ours.

Tap into NDEP's resources to plan diabetes activities.

Involve local businesses and organizations.

Don't forget medical facilities and offices!

Give us your feedback!

 
 

Read and distribute our materials. ^ top

You can download tips sheets, fact sheets, flyers, brochures, and booklets and reproduce them. You even can add your logo to let everyone know you are an NDEP partner. Another way to obtain materials is by ordering them online from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, by calling 1-800-438-5383, or by faxing an order form. All materials are copyright-free, so feel free to use our resources at meetings, health fairs, work sites, and other community programs.
 


Use the NDEP materials that work for your audience. ^ top

The NDEP has created materials tailored for populations that are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (15 different languages), Hispanics/Latinos, and older adults. Be sure to use the appropriate materials to reach your target audience.
 


Act Locally. ^ top

Begin distributing materials to the people you know best - family, friends, colleagues, fellow organization members, and neighbors. Give a presentation about the importance of diabetes prevention and control when your organization has a meeting. If you plan to start a campaign, go to a town meeting and tell everyone about diabetes prevention and control. Distribute materials and let people know about some simple steps they can take to lead a healthier life. If you're starting a prevention campaign, make the kickoff event more fun by including a workout routine set to music to get everyone moving right away!

You also can select one of the NDEP articles to place in your organization's newsletter and add a few sentences to relate it to your audience. Perhaps there is a local "superstar" who has succeeded in controlling his or her diabetes through healthy eating and physical activity. Feature this person to inspire others.
 


Work with your State Diabetes Control Program ^ top

Every state and territory has a Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) that is an NDEP partner. Join your state's efforts to expand the reach of NDEP messages and activities, and find how their programs can help you. For a list of State programs, click here.
 


What other organizations can help? ^ top

In addition to the DPCPs, several national organizations concerned about diabetes have local or regional offices. Talk to them about helping you with your campaign and see what assistance they can provide. Invite experts from these organizations as guest speakers to address your members about the latest research on controlling and preventing diabetes. Think of other organizations in your area that have an interest in diabetes, and get them on board as well.

These organizations are NDEP partners and are great places to start.

American Diabetes Association (ADA)
1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)

American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE)
1-800-832-6874

American Dietetic Association (AdietA)
1-800-366-1655
 


Work with local media outlets. ^ top

We have created press releases you can tailor for your organization and send to local newspapers or newsletters. NDEP has general audience and multi-cultural print, radio, and television public service announcements (PSAs) for our campaigns. Browse our campaign tools where you can download and use the PSAs as well as pitch letters, media advisories, press releases and fact sheets. Once you have all your tools, read tips for working with the media to help you get started on your media campaign.
 


Link your website to ours. ^ top

Create a link to our site and let your members know they can preview and print our materials and find out about current program activities.
 


Tap into NDEP's resources to plan diabetes activities. ^ top

NDEP's Community Partnership Guide and the Campaign Guide for Partners can give you more information about diabetes and how to encourage people to control it. Many of the ideas also can be helpful when starting a prevention campaign such as creating a walking program or organizing a healthy food fair.
 


Involve local businesses and organizations. ^ top

Creating a relationship with local establishments is a great way to get more of the community involved. Donations, financial or otherwise, are always appreciated when conducting a campaign, and companies often have small grants available for helping the community.

Don't forget, however, that businesses can get involved in smaller ways, too. Ask them if you can post a copy of the print PSA or set up a table to promote diabetes awareness near the entrance of their store or office. See if they also can distribute materials to customers and clients.

Plus, tell them about www.diabetesatwork.org, a site that will help them assess the impact of diabetes on the workplace and find out what they as employers can do to help employees prevent diabetes-related complications.
 


Don't forget medical facilities and offices! ^ top

Do your local doctors' and health care providers' offices have materials related to diabetes prevention and control? Give them a call and see. Tell them you can provide them with some free materials to give to their patients who either have or are at risk for diabetes. This includes pharmacists, who might be able to include a flyer in prescription bags or display brochures on their countertops for people to take. Also, let health care providers know about www.betterdiabetescare.nih.gov, a site designed to help them make a difference in the way diabetes is treated and prevented.
 


Give us your feedback! ^ top

Once your campaign is off the ground - tell us about it. What worked? What didn't? Is there more we should tell our partners about starting a campaign?