Building, Growing, and Maintaining Your Group
A successful support group requires consistent effort, time, and patience. Whether you're starting a new group or revitalizing an existing one, effective marketing and promotion can make a significant difference. Establishing a strong team mentality from the outset will result in more dedicated members, committed leaders, and widespread publicity. Once you are approved, ZERO will list your support group online via our Find a Support Group page.
Here are some strategies to consider:
• Establishing Rules, Rights, and Expectations: Clearly define the group's guidelines, participants' rights, and expectations from the beginning. This fosters a sense of structure and creates a safe, inclusive environment. • Creating Preliminary Meeting Agendas: Develop tentative agendas for the initial meetings, outlining topics, activities, and discussion points. This ensures a smooth flow and helps participants understand the group's purpose and format. • Promotion of Peer Support Resources: Leverage ZERO's resources to distribute digitally or in print. These can be shared with healthcare providers, community organizations, and potential members. • Creating Print and Digital Communication Materials: Design flyers, or digital assets that provide details about your group, meeting times, and contact information. These can be displayed in strategic locations or shared online. ZERO has a WORD template for this available. • Leveraging Social Media Platforms: Utilize social media platforms to connect with your local community, share updates, and promote your group's activities. Social media can be a cost- effective way to reach a wider audience. • Engaging Community Partners and Influencers: Collaborate with local healthcare providers, patient navigators, urology offices, cancer centers, social workers, and community organizations. Share your meeting details, offer to provide educational materials, and request to be listed on their websites or bulletin boards. Remember to connect with ZERO Staff at supportgroups@ zerocancer.org to let us know where you engage locally.
• Promoting through Relevant Organizations and Community Entities: Network with other groups, professionals, clergy, administrators, and media personnel in your area.
• Community Health Fairs: Attend a ZERO Community Educator training and host a table at local community events to raise awareness about your group and prostate cancer. ZERO has educational materials free of charge that you can request including a branded ZERO runner for your table. Remember to let us know about ZERO in the community at local events! You can do this by submitting a Report Your Own Volunteer Opportunity .
16 | ZERO Prostate Cancer
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