In 1993, we were awarded a contract to produce a public awareness campaign to enhance public knowledge of developmental delays among children birth to age 3 as well as the critical importance of early intervention services and educate the state's legislators on the importance of continuing to fund these services under Part H of the IDEA initiative.

Challenges

• Encourage the Legislature to continue providing funding for this program

• Build statewide awareness among parents of children at risk for or experiencing developmental delay about the availability of services

• Build morale among service providers

• Develop a cohesive identity for this program

Activities

• Develop a program logo

• Form of a statewide coalition to unite service providers and concerned individuals throughout the state for common activities such as education of legislators

• Produce a seven-minute video, "The Tigers Are Sleeping" to educate the general public and legislators

• Produce a half-hour special on Developmental Delay on KOB TV-4 that featured Dr. Dale Alverson

• Design and produce a four-part direct mail series aimed at the legislature

• Design and produce a poster

• Design and produce annual calendars featuring children and their families who are thriving through early intervention services and providing education about the program and listings of providers

• Design and produce general brochures on Developmental Delay

• Design and produce developmental wheels and wall charts featuring common milestones and developmental signs parents can and should look for

• Design and produce a "physician's kit" to educate family practice physicians and pediatricians on how to recognize signs and symptoms of developmental delay and how to link patients with area resources

• Design and produce a Parent Handbook to provide parents with a step-by-step guide through the assessment, diagnosis and referral process

• Design and produce annual "status" reports that detail Developmental Delay incidence and services in New Mexico

Results

• Our activities and services for this campaign resulted in the funding bill being one of the first pieces of legislation passed into law in the 1993 session

• Over the years, our activities have helped the program grow and serve more children annually

• Jim Cooney was recently recognized at the 2003 State Legislature for helping pass the original legislation at the program’s 10th anniversary celebration.

• We have been re-contracted to continue public awareness/education activities for this program each year since we began our efforts.

Case Studies_____
Each details a Cooney, Watson and Associates communications campaign.

• Big I Reconstruction
• Water Conservation
• Adopt a New Mexico Child!
• State Library Bond Issue
• JPEC
• Family Infant Toddler Program