2009 Month-by-Month Themes for Community Outreach
The following national holidays, days of recognition and monthly themes are intended to be used as a guide to jumpstart your thinking for planning local events and media outreach. The specific dates given are for 2009, but the events and themes can be used year after year. Aside from garnering media attention, these events will help you raise awareness for local Citizen Corps activities, ultimately increasing preparedness, training, and volunteer participation.
Some months have more suggestions than others, but local events and activities specific to your town can be added to further expand each month. Also, be sure to read/listen to your local news for opportunities to link Citizen Corps messages to breaking news or to human interest stories. For example, if the local news runs a story on a recent fire, follow up with the reporter to let him or her know about fire prevention education materials and upcoming fire prevention trainings!
And please remember to post your activities on the Citizen Corps Calendar of Events. And send in your stories and photos to citizencorps@dhs.gov. We love to hear from you!
January
- National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
- National Mentoring Month
- Winter Storm Preparation
- January 1, 2009: New Year's Day
- January 19, 2009: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
February
March
- American Red Cross Month
- The Great American Cleanup
- National Women's History Month
- Tornadoes
- March 8, 2009: Daylight Savings Time
- March 15-21, 2009: National Poison Prevention Week
- Mar 16-20, 2009: Flood Safety Awareness Week
April
- National 9-1-1 Education Month
- National Financial Literacy Month
- April 19-25, 2009: National Volunteer Week
- April 25 - May 2, 2009: National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)
May
- American Stroke Month
- Mental Health Month
- National Older Americans Month
- May 6-12, 2009: National Nurses Week
- May 12, 2009: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
- May 10-16, 2009: National Police Week
- May 17-23, 2009: National EMS Week
- May 17-23, 2009: National Public Works Week
- May 24-30, 2009: Hurricane Preparedness Week
- May 31, 2009: National Dam Safety Awareness Day
June
- Home Safety Month – Home Safety Council
- National Safety Month – National Safety Council
- June 1, 2009: Hurricane Season Begins
- June 14, 2009: Flag Day
- June 21-27, 2009: Lightning Safety Awareness Week
- June 27-28, 2009: ARRL Field Day
July
- Summer Thunderstorms
- July 4, 2009: Independence Day
- July 26, 2009: Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- July 26, 2009: National Parents' Day
August
September
- Back to School Activities
- National Preparedness Month
- Wildfire Mitigation
- September 7, 2009: Labor Day
- September 11, 2009: Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 Attacks
- September 13-19, 2009: National Assisted Living Week
- September 15-October 15, 2009: National Hispanic Heritage Month
- September 17, 2009: Citizenship Day
- September 20-26, 2009: National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week
- September 21-27, 2009: Deaf Awareness Week
October
- Celebrate Safe Communities
- Crime Prevention Month
- Diversity Awareness Month
- National Cyber Security Month
- October 4-10, 2009: Fire Prevention Week
- October 18-24, 2009: America's Safe Schools Week
- October 19-23, 2009: National School Bus Safety Week
- October 23-31, 2009: National Red Ribbon Week
November
- National American Indian Heritage Month
- November 1, 2009: Daylight Savings Time Ends
- November 11, 2009: Veterans' Day
- November 26, 2009: Thanksgiving Day