1. Diabetes is No Sweet Thing! Diabetes Education Campaign Sumter County Active Lifestyles

2. Sumter County Active Lifestyles (SCAL) Mission: to promote health and quality of life in Sumter County by advocating for a community environment that supports physically active lifestyles for all citizens  Bicycle-friendly community environment  Pedestrian-friendly community environment  Overall active community environment  Outreach to underserved areas to address disparities in supports for physical activity

3. Diabetes is No Sweet Thing! Focus population: African American adults in Rembert & Wedgefield, Sumter County, SC Outlet: African American churches

4. Project Goals Expand SCAL’s outreach by forming partnerships with African American churches to address health disparities in diabetes Increase opportunities for adult African American residents of Rembert and Wedgefield to learn that diabetes is serious but can prevented and controlled by simple lifestyles changes

5. How would we achieve our goals? Apply participatory social marketing strategies to create and distribute custom-designed printed educational materials

6. Social Marketing Strategies Phase 1: Formative research- Focus groups were held with members of the target population to assess their knowledge of diabetes, diabetes risk factors/risk reduction/management, and preferences for distribution of diabetes information in churches.

7. Notable Quotes about Diabetes “I don’t think Black people really focus on their health issues.” “A lot of times we don’t try to get education on it until it hits us or our family members.” “Our problem is not knowing what to do to control it.” “People need to take responsibility for themselves.” “You’re faced with a lot of challenges...” “Any disease we’re not aware of affects the community...financially and everything else.” “It ain’t no joke.” “Let people know that, even if they’re diagnosed with it, they don’t have to be afraid.”

8. Social Marketing Strategies Phase 2: Campaign message development- Under the guidance of project staff *, selected focus group participants used the focus group data to develop the educational messages for the printed materials. * RD, RD/CDE & evaluation specialist

9. Educational message topics Diabetes statistics What is diabetes, causes, symptoms, how diagnosed, complications Type 2 diabetes risk factors Pre-diabetes Lifestyle habits (diet & exercise) that prevent & control diabetes Habits that increase risk (alcohol & smoking) Diabetes myths vs. facts Diabetes management “Diabetes is serious.”

10. Social Marketing Strategies Phase 3: Materials production- 3 hand fans 3 posters 4 bulletin inserts 3 bookmarks

11. Social Marketing Strategies Phase 4: Campaign implementation- – Churches were invited by letter. – Interested churches signed an MOA and appointed a coordinator to distribute and track the educational materials. – Materials were distributed in a specific manner once a week for 6 weeks. Completed materials distribution logs were returned to SCAL.

12. Social Marketing Strategies Phase 5: Program process evaluation-  Campaign elements reach (# people who received materials)  Campaign elements frequency (# times messages were presented)  Materials dissemination (what, how many, to whom)  Implementation fidelity (did what we planned to do, on time, and per defined activities & expected results?)

13. Project Outcomes 4 partner churches Educational messages given once a week for 6 weeks Average of 272 people reached each week Est. 217 additional people from other churches, a school & youth shelter reached

14. Linda Pekuri, Executive Director lpekuri@sumtercountysc.org (803) 774-3861 www.SumterCountyActiveLifestyles.org