GETTING THE (HEALTHY) WORD OUT

• Research suggests that health fairs can influence healthy behaviors like nutritious eating and active living.
• Your community can support nutritious eating and active living by providing information and materials to residents at local events.
• At a health fair, you can easily reach large audiences with information about healthy living.
• More reasons for hosting a community health fair can be found here.

BE THE FIRST!

Tell the Mayors Wellness Campaign what you did so we can spotlight your work here!

ACTION STEPS

Gather interested partners

• As you plan the steps needed to organize a successful health fair, consult the following resources:
  • The American Heart Association’s Health Fair Kit
  • Lourdes Health Fair Manual
  • Challenges and Failures of Health Fairs and Community Screenings

Develop materials

• Think about what type of information you want to hand out (e.g., healthy food flyers, exercise plans, healthy heart tips, mental health supports, local health clinic information, etc.).
• Partner with local health care professionals, clinics or hospitals, and fitness organizations that have these materials; or design your own. Here are some free resources:
  • Healthy NJ’s information on “Diet Food and Nutrition”
  • Healthy NJ’s information on “Exercise and Fitness”
  • Chose My Plate’s “10 Tips Nutrition Education Series”
  • Resource guide for health fairs, with focus on minority health

Build Support

• Tap local hospitals, gyms, and businesses to provide the materials or subsidize your printing costs.
• Allow them to be sponsors and supporters. Add their logos to any materials you develop.

Get Help

• Get a group of volunteers to promote the message at various town events.
• Secure a location such as a school gym, a sports field, a house of worship, or a town hall.
• Recruit students, hospital volunteers, or service groups to pass out materials.
• Decide what incentives you will offer to guarantee attendance. Consider incentives like free dental services, health screenings and vision screenings.