Highlighting the ongoing work of the Georgia Department of Public Health's Division of Communications, six prestigious awards were presented last week before a national group of professionals.  
 

Pieces of the media kit created for the Georgia SHAPE launch.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) held its annual symposium in Washington, D.C., an event that helped further the organization's mission of providing tools and guidance for interactive communication between public health and communities throughout the country.

"These awards of excellence represent a team effort," said DPH Communications Director Ryan Deal. "They represent one more form of validation that what we are doing is effective in ultimately protecting the lives and health of Georgians."

These accomplishments also indicate DPH is heading in the right direction since becoming its own department in July 2011, Deal said.

NPHIC received more than 300 entries from public health agencies nationwide that showcased a variety of campaigns. Competition has perhaps never been greater since there are more channels and methods than ever before to deliver an effective message. DPH brought home several accolades.

Gold medal winning efforts included the "Ready Georgia App," which earned judges' choice, topping others in the New Media category for social media and Internet use in an production. The app was created through a partnership with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and now allows everyone in the state a means of preparing for multiple hazards.

The infant mortality report “From Preconception to Infant Protection: A Regional Look at Periods of Risk for Georgia’s Newborns,” won gold in the Print category for outsourced production of annual reports and other major reports. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the causes of infant mortality in Georgia and identifies specific clusters throughout the state where most infant deaths occur, as well as specific interventions to address these issues.

Efforts related to Georgia SHAPE, Gov. Nathan Deal’s statewide initiative to fight childhood obesity, translated into multiple awards. DPH was awarded a silver medal in the Media Relations Category for the in-house production of media kits, and a bronze medal in the New Media category for the in-house production of websites and Internet use.

Other efforts in this same vein included “Epidemic Has Heavier Price for Children,” a silver award winner in the Media Relations category for in-house production of an opinion/editorial. DPH also brought home a bronze medal in the same category for the opinion/editorial “Combating Child Obesity – A Priority.”

-Story by DPH Risk Communicator Eric Jens