Implementation Guide



Table of Contents Introduction Using This Guide Overview of the Issues Why Focus on 9- to 13-Year-Olds and Their Families? Keep the Focus in Context Getting Started Research Target Audiences Assess Local Needs Mobilize the Community Identifying Allies or Partners Local partners State, regional, and national partners Creating an Action Plan Get ready—Organize your task force Get set—Set your parameters And go! Raising Public Awareness Communication Channel One: Interpersonal Starting Your Presentation Icebreaker Quiz: How much do you know about alcohol? Icebreaker: Insider’s guide to 9- to 13-year-olds Ending Your Presentation Communication Channel Two: Community Special Events: Skill-Building/Public service/Educational Programs Communication Channel Three: Mass Media Making Media Contacts Finding Media Spokespersons Using Media Advisories and Press Releases Effectively Holding News Conferences Other Ways of Communicating Through Media announcements (PSAs Editorials: Letters to the editor and op-eds Monitoring Your Media Coverage Resources Appendix A: Community Needs Assessment Guide (Including a Needs Assessment Form and Performance Target Outline Forms) Appendix B: Profiles of the Target Audiences Appendix C: State/National Resources Appendix D: Talking Points for PowerPoint Presentations Appendix E: Quiz Answers Appendix F: Events, Activities, and Communication Products Appendix G: Press Release Format, Media Advisory Format, and Sample Letter to the Editor

Too Smart to Start Implementation Guide


	Using This Guide This guide is a starting point for people like you—health professionals, prevention practitioners, and others who are concerned with the well-being of 9- to 13-year-olds. It describes how you can localize Too Smart To Start to meet the needs of your community. This guide covers relevant issues such as assessing the community’s needs and resources, recruiting members to help, planning and publicizing events and activities to reach your Too Smart To Start audiences, and raising public awareness of the dangers of underage alcohol use. This guide includes several items that are designed to support the infusion of Too Smart To Start into your existing substance abuse prevention efforts: Insights and relevant facts and statistics to help you understand the unique mindset of 9- to 13-year-olds, and that of their parents and caregivers Tips on creating, implementing, and updat-ing your Too Smart To Start action plan Pointers on using the media to help you raise public awareness and publicize your events PowerPoint presentations (on CD) that can be used to supplement public presentations or discussions on Too Smart To Start Too Smart To Start graphic (on CD) that can be localized by including your organizational name, and the standards manual on pre-ferred use of the graphic Broadcast quality audio public service announcements that can be used to help parents/caregivers of 9- to 13-year-olds understand the harms of underage alcohol use.

Public Domain Notice

All material appearing in this guide is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). However, this publication may not be reproduced or distributed for a fee without specific, written authorization of the Office of Communications, SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated. Suggested citation:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Too Smart To Start Implementation Guide. Center for

Substance Abuse Prevention, DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 03-3866. Rockville, MD, 2003.

Obtaining Additional Copies of Publication

Copies may be obtained, free of charge, from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI). NCADI is a service of SAMHSA. For copies of publications, please write or call:

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345, (301) 468-2600, 1-800-729-6686, TDD 1-800-487-4889

Electronic Access to Publication

This publication can be accessed electronically through the Internet World Wide Web connection at: www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov

Originating Office Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention 5515 Security Lane Rockville, MD 20857

Too Smart to Start Implementation Guide

Using This Guide