Making the Case

Writing and framing community prevention success stories

Keep it local.

One of the national conversations has to do with local control and decision making-people worry about someone making decisions for them, or taking their ability to make decisions away. It's critical to emphasize that community prevention is local. No one is telling anyone what to do: community prevention is about helping neighborhoods to work together with local businesses, community groups and local health departments to figure out the best ways to build health where they live-whether that's putting more fruits and vegetables on a child's school lunch plate, or making the local park safer so a mom doesn't have to put her kid in front of the tv. The essence of community prevention is about building health and supporting decision making in the ways that communities think will work best right where they live.

Data to include:

Partnerships that have been strengthened or created, most particularly non-traditional and community-based partnerships, ie local business, local churches, parent groups, insurance orgs, gyms, childcare, farmers etc.
Data that emphasizes 'local' nature of efforts: decision making processes, local leadership; community, parents, youth, elderly, high-need population involvement

Connect policy, projected health outcomes, and projected savings.

Some folks might not see how bike lanes, or even healthier school lunches, relate to health. Try to connect the dots wherever you can. Here's the formula: Chronic disease cost + your policy + health impact=savings.

Here's an example: A Brookings Institution study found that chronic disease related to unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity costs the US $215 billion a year in direct medical costs and lost productivity. In [My Community], one way we're trying to prevent people from getting sick in the first place is by giving them more safe places to exercise, like the 35 miles of bike paths we've build throughout the city. More than half of the differences in obesity rates among countries is linked to walking and cycling rates, and crosswalks, bikepaths, and restrictions on car use encourage walking and cycling. We project that our new bike lanes will get # more people exercising-which is going to save our city money down the road.

Data to include:

Regional health stats and costs, where available-current obesity/smoking/physical activity rates, specific disparities, healthcare costs in county, walkability, distance to grocery stores, number of 'unhealthy' food outlets, etc.
Concrete measurements of pop served, demographics, measurement of services provided (this may miles of road, this many servings of fruits and vegetables, this many kids who won't be exposed to smoke) number of people affected by intervention
Projected impact in two, five, ten years including utilization, # served, projected health outcome impact and projected associated health cost savings (and jobs created or saved, if possible).

Include benefits to the economy.

With a high unemployment rate, concerns about the survival of small businesses, and a still struggling economy, people want to hear that any monetary investment is helping to create jobs, help small business and put/keep money in the local economy. Look for, collect and include these kinds of data and examples, quotes from local businesses etc, wherever you can.

Here's a great example from Steve Tarver of the Louisville YMCA, in the Louisville Courier-Journal: "Funds from a $7.9 million federal stimulus grant (Communities Putting Prevention to Work) are making it possible for us to grow the number of Healthy Corner Stores in Louisville food deserts. ... The grant enables us to provide local store owners with new equipment, business planning, and minor construction improvements. Residents in those neighborhoods no longer have lengthy bus rides, long walks or inconvenient trips to supermarkets that exist miles away from their homes. Families will enjoy thousands more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables."

Data to include: Economic benefits, including new jobs created or kept; job training/leadership opportunities for youth; equipment upgraded or purchased for local businesses; jobs or business kept locally; promotion of local merchants, farmers; increased access to or utilization of local businesses and services; community re-investment or revitalization

Use real people and stories when you can.

A quote from a public health official on how your policy impacts chronic disease: good. A quote and photo from a parent, highlighting how their child is eating healthier at school-and at home-thanks to your policy: even better. Stories and photos from local businesses, schools, and community members ground community prevention in people's real lives and keeps prevention local, tangible and meaningful. Data and numbers are hugely impactful; stories and pictures put a face on your work and make it personal. Take pictures-before and after lunch plates, church members exercising, parents, farmers; see if these folks will agree to serve as spokespeople for your initiatives.

Data to include: interviews, photos, videos with: parents, families, children, small business owners, church and civic leaders, farmers.

Making Prevention Efforts Stronger

Focus on equity, making sure that resources go not just to communities who can quickly and effectively put prevention in place, but also to assist those communities who need extra support for planning and implementation.
Make the case for community prevention even richer, by supporting research and evaluation efforts that identify what works.
Build cross-sector and cross-issue partnerships.
Make health a priority in all of our policies and all of our work.

Documents that will help you make the case for community prevention.

Read Dr. Rishi Manchanda's latest Huffington Post on health care reform, As A Doctor, How Do I Prescribe Repeal?
Our Health is California's Health: Setting the Health Agenda for 2010 & Beyond Every decision we make impacts our health—from transit to education to new technology investments-and we must commit as a state to ensuring that every policy and decision we make will better the health of Californians. Read and sign on to endorse Our Health is California's Health.
What Role can Health Impact Assessment Play in the National Health Reform Initiative? Read our Testimony to the National Research Council Committee on Health Impact Assessment.
Good Health Counts. Advancing community health approach through the use of social determinants of health data and intersectoral involvement.
Making the Economic Case for Prevention. Collecting evidence, developing models, and disseminating results to illustrate the return on investment in prevention.
Setting the National Prevention Agenda. Raising the national profile of prevention by outlining specific strategies and promoting a comprehensive national agenda.