Sample Projects

All of the sample projects on this page were done in collaboration with some very smart and very talented colleagues. Social change comes about when people get together to do good things. My experience over the past 25 years, and these sample projects, are tangible proof of this truth. 

Program Branding and Promotion

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Rockville, MD

After conducting extensive formative research with representatives of the priority audiences, developed the Lifeline brand, including logo and tag line, for the new national suicide prevention hotline. After careful planning, developed and implemented a social marketing campaign to promote help-seeking behavior among the priority audiences at risk of suicide, including middle-aged men and American Indian and Alaska Native youth. The campaign included important partnerships with federal and state agencies, telcos, and more than 100 crisis centers across the country. Within two years of launch, the Lifeline was receiving just under a million calls per year. The Lifeline continues to be the nation’s premier resource to help individuals at risk of suicide.

Training & Technical Assistance

Strategic Communications for Program Success and Sustainability

CDC Injury Center’s Division of Violence Prevention, CDC Chronic Disease Center’s Division of Community Health, SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, & US Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students, Online and in-person, various locations.

Based on the evidence base for successful health communication and social marketing campaigns, developed and delivered a comprehensive training and technical assistance program on strategic communications that was delivered through online and in-person workshops as well as ongoing consultations to leaders and staff leading health promotion and disease and violence prevention initiatives funded by multiple federal agencies, including CDC’s Injury and Chronic Disease Centers, Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services.

Social Marketing for Community Coalitions

World Social Marketing Conference, Washington, DC

Working with Jean Synodinos, developed and delivered a half-day training workshop for leaders of coalitions of community-based organizations who are working on a variety of issues–from cancer prevention to sustainable environmental practices–to achieve social change using the principals and practices of social marketing.

Engaging Youth in Your Social Marketing Campaigns and Programs

KEEPING COMMUNITIES WHOLE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, Phoenix, AZ

Working with Trillium, developed and delivered a training for leaders and staff members of community coalitions working to address behavioral health issues across the state of Arizona.  Presented as part of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith & Family conference. Here is what some of the participants said about the workshop: “Workshop was perfect. Very knowledgeable and informational.” “The most helpful features of today’s session was the ‘Four Ps’.” And “Very organized. Professional. Very good information. Thanks.”

Policy Implementation

Community Health Improvement Navigator

CDC Office of the Associate Director of Policy, Atlanta, GA

Designed and developed an easy-to-use online resource, the Community Health Improvement Navigator, to help nonprofit hospitals and hospital systems select and implement evidence-based public health programs that help them to meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act and improve the health of their communities.

National Prevention Strategy

CDC & US Surgeon General, Atlanta, GA, and Washington, DC

Designed and implemented a multi-channel communication program to support the implementation of the National Prevention Strategy, a critical part of the Affordable Care Act. The program included a communications plan, message development, and materials development, including fact sheets, flyers, banners, buttons, and blogs. It also included an annual report to the President, reporting on the status of the Strategy.

Materials Development

Visualizing Public Health Programs: The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Framework

American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC

Working with some very smart people and creative designers, developed an accessible framework to understand a comprehensive–and complex–prevention program. The three sides of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students framework (a grant program of SAMHSA) represent the different core components of the program. The mobius strip-like delta represents the ongoing, iterative nature of the work. And the delta shape itself represents change–change for the better. To support use of the SS/HS Framework, we are working with even more smart people and excellent designers to develop an interactive, online resource to help state and local officials and community leaders plan, implement, and sustain and expand a Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative in their community.