Dissemination Audiences
When rural communities consider dissemination strategies, it is essential that these strategies are targeted toward audience members and stakeholders who care about effective and sustainable rural mental health programming.
Some examples of dissemination audiences for rural mental health programs include:
- Local, state, and federal legislators and policymakers
- Advocacy groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Rural health organizations, including the National Rural Health Association
- School boards and leaders
- Mental health and primary care practitioners
- Faith leaders
- Homeless shelters
- Nonprofits/social service organizations
- Patients and their families
- Media
- Community members
- Local and state public health
- Law enforcement
- Correctional facilities
- City leaders/councils
For more information, see the Rural Community Health Toolkit on how to share successes and lessons learned.
It is important for rural mental health programs to consider dissemination strategies that will target all stakeholders because stakeholder involvement is necessary for program success and sustainability. Focus groups can be an ideal method for engaging stakeholders and determining specific dissemination strategies that work best for each group. For more information on conducting focus groups, see Conducting Focus Groups in the Community Tool Box.
Resources to Learn More
Getting the Word Out: New Approaches
for Disseminating Public Health Science
Document
This study provides information on the current science of public health dissemination, including
specific audiences to consider.
Author(s): Brownson, R.C., Eyler, A.A., Harris, J.K., Moore, J.B., & Tabak, R.G.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 24(2), 102-111
Date: 3/2018
Section
6. Conducting Focus Groups
Website
Describes the necessary steps to conduct a focus group.
Organization(s): The Community Tool Box