U.S. Surgeon General Joins SAMHSA and the Prevention Community to Support Communities Talk: Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking
02/15/2016
Hundreds Tweet Photos and Participate in Events to Get “Fired Up and Ready to Go” for 2016 Town Hall Meetings
Register Now and Start Your Planning
On February 1, U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., joined hundreds of other leaders and substance use prevention and treatment specialists from throughout the country at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Prevention Day in National Harbor, Maryland. The day included a workshop and launch event designed to educate participants about Communities Talk: Town Hall Meeting to Prevent Underage Drinking, as well as inspire participants to host, attend, or support a Town Hall Meeting in their community.
Search hashtag #CommunitiesTalk on Twitter to see tweets from the many people who, like the Surgeon General, pledged their support for the initiative by sharing a photo on social media. Additionally, the webcast of the workshop and launch event will be made available on the Town Hall Meetings website by early March. Register and start your planning today!
New Frequently Asked Questions and Tips for Registering
On January 21, thousands of community-based organizations, as well as colleges and universities recommended by the National Prevention Network and other national partners, received an e-mail invitation to register to host a Town Hall Meeting and obtain a $500 planning stipend from SAMHSA.
A limited number of planning stipends are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and they are going fast. Register now to ensure your best chance of receiving one.
Q. Where is my e-mail invitation to register and receive the planning stipend?
A. We have heard from some organizers that the e-mail invitation sent on January 21 was delivered to their spam boxes. Unfortunately, because e-mail programs treat delivery of e-mails differently, this is out of our control. If you are missing your invitation, please check your spam box for an e-mail from info@stopalcoholabuse.net. Still can’t find your invitation? E-mail your organization name, contact name, and e-mail address to info@stopalcoholabuse.net to request an invitation.
Q. I received an e-mail to register for the planning stipend. Can I forward it to the person who will be planning our event this year to complete?
A. Registration for each stipend is specifically linked with each e-mail address, so the person who received the e-mail should click on the link first and begin the registration for his or her organization. At that point, he or she can change the primary and secondary contacts to the most appropriate people in the organization. Keep in mind that when a primary contact is changed, the organization’s login will also change to the new primary contact’s e-mail address and password.
Q. What information should I have before I begin my registration?
A. Town Hall Meeting hosts who wish to request a $500 planning stipend will need to provide their organization’s Federal Tax Identification Number and submit a complete Form W-9 as part of the registration process. The Federal Tax Identification Number is also called an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and is assigned by the Internal Revenue Service.
Please complete the Form W-9 and upload it as a .pdf or .jpeg file. You also can e-mail your form to info@stopalcoholabuse.net or fax it to 301-407-6659. Be sure that the Form W-9 has been signed and dated by you or your organization’s fiscal agent before submitting it.
Q. Can I use my Town Hall Meeting login and password from previous years in 2016?
A. No. All Town Hall Meeting hosts must create a new login and password for each new cycle of Town Hall Meetings by first opening their unique URL invitation link.
Q. I am a grant coordinator for multiple communities. Can each of my communities benefit from a $500 stipend?
A. In most cases, yes. Community-based organizations serving different people in different geographic locations can each register to receive a $500 planning stipend. Each organization must register to receive the stipend (including providing a local primary contact person and organization address). Grant coordinators are encouraged to contact us at info@stopalcoholabuse.net to recommend which organizations in their communities should receive invitations. Each organization that receives an invitation should be prepared to plan, host, and evaluate its own event. Organizations may not pool their $500 stipends to create one large event. Please read additional FAQs for more information about how to use the stipend.
Q. I applied to receive a stipend. Where is my check?
A. The first checks for the 2016 cycle were mailed the week of February 7. Each stipend check is sent to the organization’s address, with attention to the primary contact that was provided in the organization’s registration. Please watch the mail closely for the check and cash it as soon as possible after you receive it. Additional stipend checks will be mailed as registrations are completed (including submission of the complete Form W-9) on a rolling basis. Each registrant receives an e-mail when the stipend check is mailed. If you received an e-mail alerting you that your check has been mailed but do not receive a check within 7-10 days, please contact us at info@stopalcoholabuse.net or 1-866-419-2514.
Q. I was not able to watch the live webcast. Will it be posted on the website?
A. Yes, the webcast will be uploaded to the Town Hall Meetings website, and we expect it will be ready by early March. We will send an announcement when the webcast is available.
Q. Is there a prescribed format for an event?
A. No, there is no set format for an event. Events can be conducted in a physical location or even online. They can also take several approaches. Sample ideas include a panel discussion, student presentation, roundtable, open-microphone community forum, or webinar. Read more about “no hall” Town Hall Meetings. For more ideas, read the Success Stories on the Town Hall Meetings website. Although creativity in format is encouraged, SAMHSA expects Town Hall Meetings to:
- Be open to the public;
- Inform participants about the consequences of underage drinking and the evidence-based measures to prevent it;
- Encourage audience discussion of solutions to the problem;
- Engage community members in pursuing prevention actions; and
- Lead to results that can be measured and reported.
Q. When should I hold my Town Hall Meeting?
A. The timing of your event can help maximize its appeal and increase attendance. While events can be held at any time of the year, many organizers hold their Town Hall Meetings between March and May, when there are awareness events, observances, and peak times for alcohol initiation and underage drinking prevention, including the following:
- Alcohol Awareness Month in April;
- SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week, May 15-21, including Prevention of Underage Drinking & Alcohol Abuse day on Thursday, May 19; and
- High months of alcohol use initiation by children under age 18 in June and July.
Many colleges and universities hold their events in the fall around back to school, homecoming, and other activities that involve celebration—and often drinking. Additionally, Town Hall Meetings are often held in response to a timely underage drinking community issue. SAMHSA-supported Town Hall Meetings can be held at any time in 2016.
Resources to Support Planning Your Town Hall Meeting
The following free resources are available from SAMHSA:
