Getting the Word Out: Where to Share Your Story

Now that you have your story, where and how are you going to share it? The following list presents just a few types of events and actions to consider when trying to have your story heard:

  • Presenting at national and/or regional conferences
  • Participating as a guest speaker/presenter on a webinars
  • Taking advantage of grassroots opportunities, such as community meetings
  • Reaching out to elected officials
  • Participating in social media campaigns
  • Publishing an article in the peer-reviewed literature

Audiences for Your Story

Conferences, webinars, and other online events offer many potential opportunities for you to share your voices, stories, and valuable experiences to ongoing discussions, and we’ve listed a few of those opportunities below.

If you know of an event not listed that interest you or would interest others, contact Laura Fudala so that we may share them here.

National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition, Periodic Webinars
Next webinar TBA
The National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition is a 600-plus-member national coalition comprised of agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals. The Coalition works to implement a national healthy housing policy agenda. The Coalition holds several webinars annually, during which presentations are offered on relevant healthy housing topics. Presenting on one of these webinars provides a no-cost way to highlight the primary prevention program. Contact Laura Fudala at lfudala@nchh.org to discuss presenting at this or a future NSHHC meeting. [url; NCHH]

NACCHO Annual 2020/NACCHO 360 
July 7-9, 2020; Denver, CO
Start planning now to attend the National Association of City and County Health Officials’ “NACCHO Annual 2020” next July in Denver. This year’s theme is “Raising the Reach of Public Health.” NACCHO is the only national organization to host annual conferences that specifically address the needs and concerns of local health officials. The NACCHO Annual is a unique learning and networking opportunity for local health officials, and their public health partners from all geographic regions of the nation to share perspectives and engage in dialogue on common key public health practice issues. [url; NACCHO]

  • Update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NACCHO 360 is being reimagined as a fully virtual experience.

American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo
October 24-28, 2020; San Francisco, CA
APHA’s Annual Meeting and Exposition program addresses current and emerging health science, policy, and practice issues in an effort to prevent disease and promote health. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Preventing Violence.” APHA’s Annual Meeting and Expo is the largest and most influential annual gathering of public health professionals. In 2019, approximately 13,000 national and international physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, researchers, epidemiologists, and related health specialists attended the APHA conference in Philadelphia to present, learn, and find inspiration. Check out great 2019 highlights on the Annual Meeting blog. The APHA 2020 call for abstracts closed on February 20. APHA membership is not a prerequisite to submit an abstract; however, if your abstract is accepted for presentation, the presenting author must become an individual member of APHA and register for the meeting. [url; APHA]

  • Update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, APHA is reimagining their 2020 conference. More details to come.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
October 25-31, 2020; multiple locations nationally
Visit EPA, CDC, and HUD’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) webpages to share information about any events that you may have scheduled during this time and access downloadable materials, including sample press releases, news articles, social media postings, and much more. NCHH will also host these materials, in addition to other resources to heighten your NLPPW impact. Watch our page for updates as we prepare for NLPPW 2020, and don’t forget to register for our fourth annual Twitter chat. [url; EPA/CDC]

New York State Public Health Association (NYSPHA) 70th Annual Meeting and New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) 2021 Public Health Partnership Conference
April 28-30, 2021; West Harrison, NY
This public health conference in New York State will offer scientific sessions in a variety of formats, including large plenary sessions and smaller concurrent sessions focused on a variety of issues and topics relevant to the 2021 theme of “Public Health 3.0: Innovating and Transforming.” [url; NYSPHA]

NEHA 2021 Annual Educational Conference and Exhibition
July 2021; Spokane, WA
The National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) Annual Education Conference (AEC) and Exhibition unites environmental health professionals from around the globe to learn and discuss current and emerging environmental health topics and issues. Discover how the local voices of agencies, industries, and levels of government provide unique perspectives and how they fit into the universal language of environmental health. Learn how these voices ensure the safety of the public and environment and how they contribute to the advancement of the environmental health profession. The NEHA 84th Annual Educational Conference will be held in Spokane, Washington. [url; NEHA]

APHA Policy in Action Institute
Date and Location TBA, 2021
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is pleased to announce this exciting opportunity to engage with public health leaders about critical issues facing our nation today. Building on the 2019 Academy Health National Health Policy Conference, APHA is organizing this additional day of discussions with a sharp focus on public health policy. Attend the Policy in Action Institute and explore important issues such as environmental health, violence prevention, immigrant children’s health, and women’s health. Learn from elected leaders as well as policy experts in the public and private sectors about how to put policy in action to improve your community and create the healthiest nation in one generation. [url; APHA]

Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Housing Conference
Date and Location TBA, 2021
Held in conjunction with the National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition, the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Housing Conference features an outstanding educational program and optional half-day visits to Capitol Hill to meet with congressional offices. [url; Healthy Housing Conferences]