School-Based Health Centers: A Communication Toolkit

Welcome!

Oregon School-Based Health Alliance (OSBHA) is pleased to provide you with this toolkit to support communications about your School-Based Health Center and ensure SBHCs are recognized as a community resource for families and young people to receive health services. 

The toolkit was developed with input from youth and SBHCs from across Oregon. They identified the materials that would be most useful for sharing information with your communities and their feedback inspired a creative design to reflect our state’s diversity.

Explore the website to access the resources you need. The toolkit is designed to be easy-to-use, customizable to showcase the services of your SBHC, and accessible for all SBHCs!

How to Use the Toolkit

Watch this brief video for an overview on how to navigate this site and customize materials.

Tips and Best Practices

Using the toolkit is simple!

Below are some tips on how to best use the toolkit to create and customize materials:

• Copy and paste. We know you’re busy so there’s no need to spend time writing new material! Using the messages that have already been created in this toolkit, copy and paste what is most relevant to your SBHC.

• Customize. Make the content your own by adding in details that are specific or unique to your SBHC such as services offered, hours of operation or other important details that will help students and families receive the best care possible. 

  • Tip: Always remember to "Save As" and rename the template when adding/changing new copy so the primary template doesn't change. 

• Keep it brief and add links. Students and their families get a lot of information. Keep messages short and provide them with a link to your website where they can get more detailed information about services offered and state or local health laws (e.g., age that students can make their own appointments). If students or families in your community have limited internet access, consider how you can provide them with key information with a limited amount of text.

  • Note on Instagram: Instagram doesn’t allow links in posts. Instead, you can add a link to your SBHC website in your Instagram bio and at the end of your posts write “Link in bio.”

• Layer in local context or knowledge. You know the students and parents/guardians at your school best — add language that connects to local families or choose to share content that is most applicable to the community.

• Build materials. The messages in this toolkit can be used in many different ways including for social media posts, newsletters, posters, websites, fliers, handouts, tip sheets, postcards and more! Use the resources to create what would be most effective in your community.

  • Tip: For social media graphic templates, export as a PNG or JPEG for easy upload to any social media network. 

• Be positive and encouraging. Emotions like pride, hope and positivity can be more likely to inspire students and their families to receive care, instead of fear or shame. This is especially important when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine. 

• Get creative. The content in the toolkit is just a starting point. If you’re feeling inspired, you can write new material or revise what’s here — add your own creativity!

• Use hashtags. For social media posts, don’t forget to use hashtags such as #wellness or #mentalhealth. This will help bring more awareness to the SBHC and allow you to connect with students.

• Printing Guidance. If available, printing materials from a laser printer is the best choice. Materials were designed to be printed in Color or Black & White. If you don't have access to a laser printer we recommend uploading files to FedEx Printing or your local print shop. Even if you don't have a FedEx nearby, you can still upload the files and have copies mailed to you.  

QR Codes

If you have a website you can create a custom QR code to take people right to the site. 

What is a QR code?

A QR code is short for 'quick response' code and is a square-shaped black and white symbol. When it is scanned with a smartphone it will take people to the website URL you designate. 

How do I make a custom QR code?

Visit https://high-qr-code-generator.com/, type in your website URL, click download and add it to your poster.