Health Communication Services
What is Health Communication
According to the National Cancer Institute, health communication may be defined as “the study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that enhance health.” Health communication plays a big role in a person's decision to adopt positive health behaviors. According to Healthy People 2020, people form their health behaviors based on the information, communication, and technology available to them.
Health Communication at the Orange County Health Department
The Orange County Health Department uses health communication principles to develop public information campaigns, health education materials, and promotional materials highlighting the overall department and its services. Our communications manager carries out various projects including social marketing; communication/dissemination planning; material development and pre-testing; campaign development and implementation; and media relations.
Helpful Resources
- CDC HealthCommWorks
- Pulse and Signal
- National Center for Health Marketing (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Making Health Communication Programs Work (National Cancer Institute)
- NC Division of Public Health's Social Marketing Matrix Team
- Hands-On Social Marketing (Weinreich Communications)
For more information, contact:
Stacy Shelp
Communications Manager/ Public Information Officer
Orange County Health Department
919-245-2462
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