PIVOTING TO SOCIAL MEDIA

OBJECTIVE

To provide information, education, and resources for families with children, ages 0-5, that reside in Pinal County. The social media platforms used are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

PROBLEM / CHALLENGE

No face-to-face meetings to promote our wealth of educational resources and information.

STRATEGY

Since the beginning of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, we provided families with relevant information about how to talk to young children about their COVID fears, hand-washing techniques, and we continued to provide local resources for families in need of supplies/services and more. We then shifted our posts to engage children/ families during the summer with posts to encourage reading and working on developmental skills. As children started school in August, we began to shift again to posting educational information for parents about their child’s milestones and our programs.

WHAT WE DID

  • Created an Instagram account

  • Posted an average of 15 videos/posts each week on Facebook for 26 weeks (3/16/2020-09/11/2020)

  • Created theme-driven activities to support a child’s development

  • Our team collaborated to bring together craft activities complete with stories that tied into the theme of the week. Opportunities for bonding and growing as a family were intermingled with educational nuggets for parents to grasp onto as a means to celebrate their child's development along the way.


FACEBOOK

An online social media platform tool allows users to see different photos, videos, and informational posts from friends, families, and organizations.

Purpose/Goals—Our Facebook account allows people to learn what the Sensory and Developmental Program is about and how the program serves the community. Our goal is to increase to membership (followers) and pass along educational information to families in our communities. Parents and those who are interested in the program will be able to contact the program through Facebook to ask questions or to schedule an appointment. The percentage of followers and parents becoming aware of the Sensory and Developmental Program will increase.

INSTAGRAM

Due to the limitations of the Sensory and Developmental Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need for other ways to access our community. Instagram is a fun tool that allows users to see different photos and videos from friends, families, and organizations.

To capture a larger audience from social media, our Instagram account is meant to reach a younger caregiver population who might not engage on Facebook or other outreach sources. It simply provides another avenue for people to see what the Sensory and Development Program is about and how the program serves the community.

RESULTS

We have increased the number of followers to our Facebook page as well as the number of likes to our page. This means that more people are learning about our programs as well as children’s developmental milestones.

Through all our social media outreach we have been able to increase knowledge and provide screenings to families during this pandemic. We have provided fun, educational activities for children and families.

CONCLUSION

Reaching a “NEW” population on social media.

Provided relevant, up-to-date information to families during a time when information was needed for families with young children.

University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension Pinal County

  • Esther Turner, Program Coordinator, Sr.

  • Jennie Treadway, Program Coordinator

  • Shevonda Joyner, Community Outreach Assistant II

  • Karin Larrimore, Community Outreach Assistant II

  • Tammy McCarville, Community Outreach Assistant II

  • Maria Melendez, Graphic Designer

  • Cathy Martinez, FCHS Agent

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeffrey C. Silvertooth, Associate Dean & Director, Extension & Economic Development, Division of Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension, The University of Arizona.
The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information in its programs and activities.
Emitido en promoción del trabajo de la Extensión Cooperativa, leyes del 8 de mayo y 30 de junio de 1914, en colaboración con el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos, Jeffrey C. Silverstooth, Decano Asociado y Director, Extensión Cooperativa y Desarrollo Económico, División de Agricultura, Ciencias de la Vida, Veterinaria, y Extensión Cooperativa, Universidad de Arizona.
La Universidad de Arizona es una institución que promueve la igualdad de oportunidades y de género. La Universidad no discrimina en sus programas y actividades por razones de raza, color, religión, sexo, nacionalidad de origen, edad, discapacidad, condición de veterano, identidad de género, preferencia sexual, o información genética.