self help awareness month

[Guest guest]

J A N U A R Y

Is Self-Help Support Group Month

January is " Self-Help Group Awareness Month. " This is an opportunity for

your self-help group to contact the media and other avenues to get the word

out about your group, as well educating others about the general benefits of

attending groups.

If your group is interested, here is a list of possible " Self-Help Group

Awareness Month " activities that you might consider:

Possible Group Activities

For Self-Help Groups:

1. Write a press release announcing your January meeting(s), and

begin it by mentioning the fact that January is " Self-Help Group Awareness

Month. "

2. If you have a printed or online group newsletter, let members

know of the recognition.

3. If appropriate for your group, schedule a special guest

speaker for a January meeting and, just like in suggestion #1 above, write a

press release to announce the presentation and also mention " Self-Help Group

Awareness Month " and the Governor's Proclamation.

4. Contact a key county freeholder for your county, educate him

or her to your group, and ask if they would help issue a county proclamation

to recognize Self-Help Group month in your group's county (we can help

provide you with a list or information on other support groups in your

county).

5. Join with several other self-help groups and plan a self-help

support group " Fair " some time in January in a public area (we can help

network you with other groups).

6. Contact " Community Affairs " or any talk show host at local

radio station to mention month and ask for an interview.

7. Hold a contest (e.g. guess the number of Self-Help groups

that meet in your County). We can provide you with the number of groups in

your county.

8. If your group has a website, consider linking to a

Clearinghouse web page publicizing " the month " and having a copy of any

proclamation when it is issued.

9. Write a letter-to-editor of your daily/weekly newspapers to

mention the month, and also to thank any especially helpful professional or

agency, e.g., any professional advisor, etc.

10. Create and give an award for a helpful professional or agency,

photograph presentation, and publicize it.

11. Contact any supportive professionals to encourage them to

consider writing a " Letter to the Editor " to mention the Governor's action

and to share their insights into how your group and other self-help groups

are helpful to those in need.

12. Approach local professionals and agencies and ask that they

please consider any of the other suggested actions listed below for

professionals

13. Approach your local public library with a list of key library

books that related to your group's issue, and ask if they would kindly

consider setting up a display of those books along with reference (maybe

brochures too) on your group the Proclamation.

14. Consider having interested group members volunteer to do a

community service project that benefits the community and publicizing it (if

you cannot think of a specific community volunteer project, we can connect

you with a local volunteer center that can offer you ideas).

15. Your own idea to add? Please let us know. ed@...

For Professionals & Agencies:

1. To help celebrate and increase both public and professional

awareness of community self-help groups during " Self-Help Support Group

Week, " if you do know the value of these groups for your clients, please

consider writing a " Letter to the Editor " of your local paper, mentioning

the observance and your knowledge of the value of community self-help groups

to those in need.

2. Agencies and hospitals can consider scheduling presentations

by group representatives open to professionals and the public, e.g., instead

of having group reps just come to a staff meeting to explain their group,

consider scheduling a presentation by group reps open also to the general

public and professionals in other agencies.