samhsa.gov/prevention-week

ITEMS TO HAVE ON HAND

If you team up with local businesses, chambers of commerce, organizations, or community 

members to publicize your event or activity, be sure to provide them with an ample 

number of flyers, information to post on their website or include in their e-newsletter, and 

a contact number for someone who can give them additional information about your event.

When publicizing your National Prevention Week event 

or activity, it is vital to maximize the event’s visibility 

by promoting it to your intended audience effectively.

While traditional methods, such as media outreach and advertising, 

are popular promotional strategies, you can also spread the word 

inexpensively by focusing on promotion through local resources 

described below.

Always remember to keep your intended audience in mind. If widereaching exposure is your goal, consider a large campaign to spread 

the word. If you want to focus on reaching a specific population, such 

as youth or community leaders, narrow your outreach efforts to local 

businesses and community centers and schools, and other locations 

that are popular with these specific groups.

Publicize Your Event Locally

Hosting a prevention event or activity can rally your community around substance use prevention and mental 

health promotion.

By spreading the word locally, you will ensure that your community members are aware of your group’s or 

organization’s prevention efforts. Below are some free and low-cost ways to publicize your event within the 

community and the surrounding area.

Tell SAMHSA about your 

National Prevention 

Week event or activity! 

Submit details about your 

event for a chance to be 

featured in future National 

Prevention Week activities 

or promotional materials.

TIP

TIPS FOR GETTING

THE WORD OUT
samhsa.gov/prevention-week

Local Businesses

Many communities have coffee shops, restaurants, barbershops, beauty salons, grocery stores, bookstores, libraries, 

theaters, commissaries, pharmacies, health and sports facilities, and other places where community members 

spend time and share information. Brainstorm to identify popular and trusted local organizations in your community, 

then approach them about helping to promote your event or activity. Can you post flyers in their window or on their 

announcement board? Can you leave a stack of cards at the checkout counter announcing the event? Do they have 

a way to reach their customers online—through a website, Facebook page, Instagram account, or email distribution 

list—and would they be willing to share information about your event or activity there?

Nonprofit Organizations and Associations

Consider connecting with national and local organizations such as Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Rotary or Lions clubs, parent-teacher association (PTA), Knights of 

Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), National Urban League, or the National Latino Behavioral Health 

Association to increase your event’s visibility. These organizations often have a strong local presence and large 

membership rosters, providing a powerful voice in the community. Supply volunteers and organizations with a simple 

card or flyer that highlights the information you’d like to share, in addition to a website or phone number that anyone 

can turn to for more information.

Community Centers and Schools

Is your event geared toward youth? Families? Intergenerational groups? Senior citizens? Community centers and schools 

can provide ways to spread the word about your event to specific audiences. Make sure to contact the director of the 

community center or the principal of the school to get approval on publicizing your event or activity within the center 

or school, and to find out if there are regulations on what materials you can post and where. You may also want to ask if 

there is an upcoming assembly or gathering where you can announce your prevention event or activity.

Places of Worship

Faith-based organizations and places of worship can offer another way to promote your event or activity. You may be 

able to share flyers or include information about your event in a weekly bulletin or in a congregation’s e-newsletter 

or website. You also may want to reach out specifically to youth groups within the organization. However, be sure to 

first talk to leadership within the organization or place of worship to ensure that you are following any guidelines and 

policies they have in place.

Community Event Calendars

Print and online community events calendars are great opportunities for free event promotion. Contact your local 

newspaper to see if it has a community events calendar. Request that your event or activity be included in the 

calendar listings. Be sure to research the deadlines to submit information in advance of your event and ask about 

online listings, as well. Because you are often given a limited space to describe your event or activity, list the most 

important details (what, where, when, and why) and provide readers with a website or phone number that they can 

turn to for more information.

Word of Mouth

Never doubt the power of word of mouth in gaining your community’s attention! Encourage staff and volunteers to 

promote the event or activity to their friends and other organizations or groups with which they are affiliated. Provide 

them with talking points that highlight the key messages and information to share.
samhsa.gov/prevention-week

Ways to Get Started

Follow the steps below to start publicizing your prevention event or activity locally.

LOCAL RESOURCE ACTION STEPS

Businesses • Identify popular and trusted local businesses in your community.

• Ask to post flyers in their window or on their announcement board or leave

a stack of flyers announcing your event.

• Determine if they are willing to promote your event through their website or

social media accounts.

Nonprofit Organizations 

and Associations

• Identify influential nonprofit organizations and associations in your

community.

• Ask them to share a locally developed flyer with highlights about your

upcoming event with their members or constituencies.

• Determine if they are willing to promote your event through their website,

social media accounts, or email list.

Community Centers

and Schools

• Contact the center director or school principal to get approval to publicize

your event on the premises. Ask if there is an upcoming assembly or

gathering where you can make an announcement about your event or if

there is an email list or forum for parents where information can be shared.

Places of Worship • Ask to share flyers or include information about your event in a weekly

bulletin or in a congregation’s e-newsletter or website.

• Identify and engage any youth groups affiliated with the place of worship.

• Ask to make a presentation to or host an educational activity with their youth

groups or share flyers/information for distribution at youth group events.

Community Event Calendars • Contact your local newspaper to see if it has a community events calendar

(print or online). Request that your event be included in the calendar listing

as your event approaches.

Word of Mouth • Develop simple talking points about your upcoming event (e.g., event name,

date, location) to share with volunteers. Ask volunteers to email or speak

with friends, other groups they are affiliated with, and community members

about your event.