Public Relations and Communications
Practice Directorate

Partnerships Key to Communicating Warning Signs

Across the country psychologists are finding innovative ways to extend the reach of the Warning Signs project through partnerships.

North Carolina

Students in Wilmington, North Carolina took home more than just As, Bs and Cs with their report cards this semester. Warning Signs brochures were given to parents along with a letter from the school superintendent as part of YWCA's "Week Without Violence." A total of 22,000 guides were distributed.

In addition to school outreach, Dr. Deborah Nelson hosted a Warning Signs forum for teachers at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science. The event coincided with the museum's opening of the Science Directorate's traveling exhibit, "Psychology: It's More Than You Think!"

"The creative ideas just keep flourishing," says Jan Peterson, APA assistant executive director for public relations and communications. "It's great to see so many practitioners extending the reach of Warning Signs."

Montana

The project also provided an opportunity for Montana psychologists to get involved in the public education campaign for the first time since it was launched in 1996.

Dr. George Watson worked with other practitioners, as well as the Montana Sheriff's and Peace Officers Association, State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Keenan, U.S. Senator Max Baucus, the Montana State PTA and the Montana State Churches Association to host nine forums statewide. Each was attended by about 100 people and promoted through articles and free ads in The Bozeman Chronicle and other local newspapers.

"This project allowed the state association to partner with the people of Montana, the schools, the churches and the political leaders on this issue," says Watson.

Pennsylvania

This fall, the Pennsylvania Psychological Association held two continuing education workshops for more than 80 school and clinical psychologists, school superintendents, and a member of the state department of health. Warning Signs materials were used for two programs titled: "Risky Business: Coping with Threats in Schools" and "Reducing School Violence."

The Association also mailed Warning Signs information to the 256 members of the Pennsylvania state legislature and 501 school superintendents. They each received a Warning Signs guide, a letter about the program and a copy of the press release and letter from Secretary of Education Richard Riley, which are provided in the planning kit.

Interest Grows

The Warning Signs project continues to generate impressive results. Since the launch of the project in April, achievements include:

• 373,000 hits to the Warning Signs guide pages on the HelpCenter Web site, helping.apa.org
  279,687 brochures disseminated
• 14,903 consumer calls to the toll-free number to receive a copy of the guide (1-800-268-0078)
• 10,043 requests for guides via e-mail
• 3,345 planning kits and 3,076 videos distributed to practitioners
• More than 250 youth forums conducted around the country

Warning Signs Now Closed-Captioned!

The Warning Signs video is now available in closed-captioned format. Practitioners interested in receiving this version for hearing-impaired audiences can call the APA Campaign Services Bureau toll-free at 877-274-8787 ext. 135 to request a copy. Remember to set your TV monitor to "closed-captioning" when viewing.

APA Provides Matching Grants for Advertising

Five associations placed advertising this year, taking advantage of APA's matching grant advertising assistance program. Advertising was placed in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Seattle-Tacoma, Memphis and Cleveland.

The 1999 placements reached millions of listeners communicating the value of psychological services. One example of effectiveness is the increased calls to the toll-free number. For instance, during the four-week placement period, calls to the referral line in Washington state totaled 65, up 261% from the 18 calls during the four-week period prior to placement.

To apply for funding, applicants must implement at least two other campaign activities concurrent with the advertising placement and incorporate the "Talk to Someone Who Can Help" themes and materials into those activities.

If an applicant meets all the program requirements, APA will provide an 80% match for the money raised by the organization to place advertising, until the grant funding runs out. The grant is capped at $50,000 for advertising placed in the top 25 markets (see your campaign kit for a full list) and $25,000 for all other media markets.

It takes at least two months to finalize applications, so those interested in advertising at the first of the year should submit grant applications now. If you have not already received a copy of the guidelines or have any questions, please contact Tricia Alvarez at 202-336-5910.

New Jersey Recognizes Psychologically Healthy Workplaces

New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman proclaimed October as Psychological Health in the Workplace Month, in recognition of efforts undertaken by the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA). The association committed to a statewide campaign aimed at increasing public awareness about the importance of creating psychologically healthy workplaces.

One component of this campaign is the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, which is given to those companies that have made the greatest effort and achieved the most tangible results in establishing a quality work environment.

Site visits were conducted at all the competing companies, which were evaluated on their efforts to go beyond the standards set out in many employee assistance programs, says Dr. David Panzer, co-chair of NJPA's healthy workplace subcommittee. "We also considered more complex organizational issues which often impact on the desirability of working conditions," he says. Preparation for Healthy Workplace Awards 2000 is under way. "Recipients expressed that the award was a very meaningful recognition," says Dr. Nina Thomas, NJPA public education campaign coordinator.

The awards were presented at NJPA's Fall Conference in October to the following recipients:

PSE&G - Large Company (more than1,000 employees)
Organon - Midsize Company (fewer than 1,000 employees)
Hunter Douglas - Honorable Mention

Host Eating Disorders Screening

Register by December 15th to host a 2000 National Eating Disorders Screening. For more information about the screenings being held Feb. 14-18, call the National Mental Illness Screening Project, Inc., at 781-239-0071, or call 800-573-4433 to find the closest screening site, or visit www.nmisp.org.