Message Toolkit: Inspiring Partners to Strengthen Public Health in Minnesota

Transforming the Public Health System in Minnesota

This toolkit can help anyone working in or with public health communicate effectively and efficiently about what public health is, what it does, and why we need a more seamless, responsive, and publicly-supported governmental public health system. 

• Who is this toolkit for? Anyone who works to create healthy communities can use the message frame in this toolkit to talk with state and local public health experts, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and other important decision-makers who influence public health in Minnesota. 
• What does this toolkit do? The message frame in this toolkit can help you make sure your talking points address the group you're talking with and their hopes and vision, to help them understand how you are part of each other's work to build healthy communities. You can use the frame for any issue, with any community, in every part of the state.

Download the toolkit and workbook

Toolkit: Message Toolkit: Inspiring Partners to Strengthen Public Health in Minnesota (PDF)

Workbook: 
Print and write by hand: Message Workbook, printable version (PDF)
Download and edit in MS Word: Message Workbook, MS Word version (DOC)

Schedule a workshop

To discuss a workshop for your staff, please contact Allie Hawley March, communications coordinator, MDH Community Health Division.

At the present time, workshops are open to local public health staff, tribal health staff, MDH staff, and members of the State Community Health Services Advisory Committee (SCHSAC).

About this toolkit

The guidance in this toolkit was developed using science-based models for persuading and motivating people through language that informs and inspires. MDH, LPHA, and SCHSAC worked with the strategic communications firm Hattaway Communications on this project. Hattaway led extensive engagement with MDH, LPHA, and SCHSAC, as well as local, state, and tribal public health experts, elected officials, and other community leaders, to ensure that the recommendations were based on a deep understanding of the needs of public health personnel and communities statewide.