Lisa Slater
McLean County Health Department, Illinois
June 9, 2015

A summer program launched by the McLean County Health Department unites education and promotion in a unique way has caught the attention of many locals. On the heels of a successful National Public Health Week celebration in April, health department staff wanted to build on the momentum gained from that campaign and from their own--the “I Am Public Health” campaign-- by keeping focus on the message that health choices made by individuals in the community affect the overall health of the community.

At the same time however, health department employees were also grappling with the challenge to raise awareness of their own community services, as new opportunities under the Affordable Care Act to bill for services allowed the health department to expand its service offerings to reach a wider audience. With those two efforts in mind, it wasn’t long before a recently revived employee-driven marketing committee had a plan -- and the idea to do weekly summer pop-up events was born. The health department’s summer pop-up program began the week of May 18. Since then, health department employees have been popping-up at different locations throughout the community to “catch” people making good decisions when it comes to their health and the health of their families. The emphasis is on the positive -- shining a light on the good things residents are doing and reinforcing the message that creating the healthiest nation starts with creating the healthiest community, which starts with creating the healthiest family, which ultimately starts with creating the healthiest you. And as a side advantage, the pop-ups are getting health department staff out in the community every week; interacting and engaging residents in conversations about health and about the health department’s many services.

At the pop-ups, up to 10 people are recognized for practicing healthy behaviors. Each individual (and often their companions) receives one of the health department’s “I am Public Health” t-shirts, a handout with summertime health tips, and a flyer listing health department services and contact information. Photos of the good health stewards are taken and posted on social media, allowing the health department to share examples of real community members engaging in healthy behaviors.

So far, the health department has popped-up at a local grocery store in search of individuals making healthy food and drink choices, or using hand sanitizer, or buying sunscreen and other items to protect their health. A team has also shown up at a greenhouse and garden center to find those interested in growing fruit, vegetables, or herbs; or buying organic gardening supplies; or looking for products to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in their water gardens, fountains, or bird baths. Their most recent stop was at a community aquatic center where employees spent time looking for practitioners of sun and heat safety practices.

Thanks to the pop-up events, the McLean County Health Department has been able to directly share with residents information about proper cooking temperatures and safe food handling, West Nile virus prevention, cooking with herbs, heat safety and sun protection, and their services available back at the health department. They’ve also uncovered potential new partnerships with local businesses – a dietitian from the grocery store is interested in doing store tours followed by a healthy cooking class for WIC participants, a garden center employee is interested in teaching a vegetable gardening class for WIC participants, and others. News about the pop-up events has been featured in the local newspaper and on the radio and through social shares on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Pop-up locations are tweeted anywhere from a few minutes to several hours before the event and the program with run through the week of August 17.

A summer program launched by the McLean County Health Department unites education and promotion in a unique way has caught the attention of many locals. On the heels of a successful National Public Health Week celebration in April, health department staff wanted to build on the momentum gained from that campaign and from their own--the “I Am Public Health” campaign-- by keeping focus on the message that health choices made by individuals in the community affect the overall health of the community.