Session: PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP V: WORKSHOP ON EFFECTIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION (Society for Prevention Research 24th Annual Meeting)

Effective efforts to educate the public about the efficacy of prevention and, more broadly, education that influences behavior at a population level are needed for at least two reasons. First, too few practitioners and policymakers are aware of the wide array of programs, practices, and policies that have proven impact in affecting the most common and costly psychological, behavioral, and health problems. Educating the public and private sectors about what is achievable is compelling and likely to increase support for the funding and adoption of well-tested, effective interventions and policies that will advance adoption and implementation. Second, as has been true of the tobacco control movement, mass media has the potential to have a direct preventive impact on reducing the prevalence of psychological and behavioral problems. The workshop will describe strategies for public education, including the use of social media. Discussion will focus on potentially effective ways in which the implementation and scaling of programs and policies can be promoted in states, communities, and health care systems. Advocacy efforts for greater funding of prevention research and adoption of prevention policies by government will be addressed.