Novmber 10, 2011 Current Rescues 2,454
Quote of the Week
"It's the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance and sweeps away all obstacles". Claude M. Bristol
Tips & Tricks to Promote
Project Lifesaver at Your Agency
MEDIA, PUBLICITY
&
EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
One of the key elements to the success of an innovative program such as Project Lifesaver is the support and involvement from the local community. Community members and leaders need to know about the program and understand the benefits it provides. The number of Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease has been steadily growing and leading authorities are alarmed at what they have now termed an epidemic of autistic children. Both of these "At Risk" groups have wandering tendencies. Both members and leaders of local communities across the country share concerns about these issues and would be willing to give their support to effectively deal with the issues that arise from those conditions. Project Lifesaver International is the premier organization nation-wide providing law enforcement and first responders with the training and technology to quickly find individuals with cognitive disorders who tend to wander. In order to create the necessary trust and support for the program from the community and its leadership, first responder agencies must systematically publicize their efforts and clearly communicate the many benefits the program provides. The implementation of a proactive communications plan requires the regular flow of information to the public with the direct involvement of the news media. Project Lifesaver would like to help. To begin the process, ask yourself a few basic questions:
- What strategies are used to disseminate information about your Project Lifesaver program?
- Do you have a specific individual (Public Information Officer) responsible for Public Relations and Communications?
- In what ways has the news media been integrated into these plans?
- How successful have these efforts been?
Over the next few issues of this newsletter we will be providing you with media relations, community relations, and internal communications suggestions that you may be able to customize for local consumption.
We would however like to hear from you:
- Would you like more information and support in the areas of Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications?
- Would the development and availability of communications materials, templates, and training modules for Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications support be helpful?
We look forward to hearing from you and working with you. Please contact Joseph Salentri, Senior Communications Advisor of Project Lifesaver International at 609-672-1441 or Elizabeth Kappes, Director of Media & Communications, at 757-531-5105 or reply with any questions or comments.
Press Release: For Immediate Release
Please let your readers, members and employees know about the following.
For the fourth year, the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners is offering The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners Alzheimer's and Dementia Staff Education Week February 14th to the 21st Tool Kit. The Tool Kit is free and available at www.nccdp.org. The tool kit includes many free Power Point in-services for download beginning November 15th 2011 to March 1st 2012. Each in-service is designed to be taught in 30 minutes to health care professionals and front line staff.
The Tool Kit and the declaration by the NCCDP Alzheimer's and Dementia Education Week February 14th to the 21st was developed to bring national and international awareness to the importance of providing comprehensive dementia education by means of face to face interactive classroom environment to all healthcare professionals and line staff and to go above and beyond the minimum state requirements regarding dementia education.
Currently, there are no national standards for dementia education. The regulations are different from state to state. The NCCDP recommends at minimum an initial 8 hours of dementia education to all staff. Throughout the year, additional dementia education should be provided that incorporates new advances, culture change and innovative ideas.
In addition to facilitating the Train the Trainer programs, The NCCDP promotes dementia education and certification of all staff who qualify as Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP®). The NCCDP recommends that at minimum there should be one Certified Dementia Practitioner® per shift. The NCCDP recommends a trained and certified Alzheimer's and dementia instructor by the NCCDP to utilize up to date NCCDP training materials.
The NCCDP recognizes the importance of educated and certified dementia unit managers and certifying the Dementia Unit Manager as Certified Dementia Care Manager (CDCM®). Dementia Unit Managers report that they have received little training as a Dementia Unit Manager.
Front Line First Responders and Law Enforcement need comprehensive Dementia training and the NCCDP provides Alzheimer's and Dementia training to First Responder and Law Enforcement educators and certification as Certified First Responder Dementia Trainer®.
The free tool kit includes:
- Free Power Point In-services (Many topics) for Health Care Staff which includes pre test, post tests, hand outs, answers, in-service evaluation and in-service certificates.
- Nurse Educator of the Year Nomination Forms
- Nomination Forms for NCCDP Alzheimer's and Dementia Staff Education Week Contest
- Proclamations for Senators and Mayor
- Letters to the Editors Promoting Your Program
- 97 Ways to Promote Alzheimer's and Dementia Staff Education Week 2011
- Resources and Important Web Sites
The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners®, LLC was formed in 2001 by a group of professionals with varying work and personal experiences in the field of dementia care. The Council was formed to promote standards of excellence in dementia and Alzheimer's education to professionals and other caregivers who provide services to dementia clients. As the number of dementia cases continues to increase nationally and worldwide, there is a great necessity to insure that care givers are well trained to provide appropriate, competent, and sensitive direct care and support for the dementia patient. The goal of the Council is to develop and encourage comprehensive standards of excellence in the health care profession and delivery of dementia care. Please contact Executive Director of NCCDP, Sandra Stimson at nationalccdp@aol.com, she will address any questions you have.
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