jump to navigation
Print    E-Mail   Share External link. Please review our Disclaimer 

What’s New

Communities Talk What’s New articles share information to help event organizers plan, host, and evaluate events aimed at mobilizing a community around evidence-based prevention of underage drinking.

View the Communities Talk Webcast and Promotional Presentation; Get New Resources to Promote Your Event

03/18/2016

Communities Talk: Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking Webcast, Promotional Presentation, and More Now Available Online

An archive of the live webcast of Communities Talk: Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 12th Prevention Day on February 1 is now available on the Town Hall Meetings website. The webcast includes both a workshop on how to hold a successful Town Hall Meeting and the national launch event. Slides from the workshop are also available to view and download.

Additionally, a multimedia promotional presentation, shown during the national launch event, is available to view and share to promote your involvement in the national program. And don’t miss a Storify summary of those who participated in the social media dialogue #CommunitiesTalk.

Resources to Promote Your Town Hall Meeting

Promoting your Town Hall Meeting has taken on a whole new meaning in this age of blogs, eNews, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter—not to mention traditional media outlets such as radio, television, and newspapers.

Begin by developing a promotion plan. Think about reaching your community before, during, and after your event via traditional and social media.

Media Engagement Tips

Generating news coverage of your prevention efforts is a key way to increase awareness about underage drinking prevention and drive attendance at your event.

Use SAMHSA’s media engagement tips and tools, which include a customizable press release, to build and sustain the media’s interest in your prevention efforts.

Leveraging Social Media

Create awareness of underage drinking prevention and mobilize your audiences by engaging with them via social media for Communities Talk: Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking.

social media guide

SAMHSA’s social media guide can help you communicate and interact online by using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sharable graphics are available in our social media image gallery to download and distribute on your social media channels. The blogging guide provides tips and guidance on how to blog as a promotional and educational activity.

More information is also available in our social media webinar.

Join the national online conversation! Use the hashtag #CommunitiesTalk on Facebook and Twitter to engage audiences online before, during, and after your event.

Additionally, be sure to add your event details to the national Find a Meeting map. Use your Town Hall Meeting host log-in and password to complete this next step of your registration profile when you have your event details.

Resources to Support Underage Drinking Prevention

The following free resources are available from the federal government:

Communities Talk: Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking Customizable Resources

Resources featuring the new program icon are now available to support your Town Hall Meeting. Download the customizable resources, including a PowerPoint presentation template, flyer template, certificate templates, icons, and web badge today.

NIAAA Releases New Publication on the Role of Parents in Preventing Underage Drinking The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has released a new resource with research findings about the role of parents in helping their children develop healthy attitudes toward drinking and minimizing its risks. Parenting to Prevent Childhood Alcohol Use, is available on the NIAAA website.

SAMHSA Releases New Behavioral Health Barometer Report National Behavioral Health Barometer

SAMHSA’s 2015 National Behavioral Health Barometer report, which highlights trends in Americans’ behavioral health, is now available. Encouragingly, the report shows that the nation’s behavioral health is improving, particularly among adolescents. Trends in binge drinking decreased among adolescents from 2002 to 2014.

The Behavioral Health Barometer reports data at the national and state levels for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Also included are analyses based on demographic factors such as gender, age, income level, health insurance status, and race/ethnicity. Access the full report here.