Community Health Center launches social media campaign

The Community Health Center Association of Connecticut has launched a mobile, social media and advocacy campaign, “Txt 2B Heard,” to reduce health disparities and improve health policy making by providing opportunities for health care consumers to inform decision making.

In southeastern Connecticut, United Community & Family Services and Generations Family Health Center, both in Norwich, are involved in the campaign.

During the campaign, health center patients and other health care consumers will be asked to express their opinions and perspectives on health care delivery and reform via text message, postcard, and posts on Twitter, Facebook and a new web site, www.txt2bheard.org, the association said in a news release.  It will allow patients to voice what they want and need from the health care system. Themes that emerge from the patients’ voices will be compiled into a report for health center leaders and policy makers.

“Contacting policy makers directly and testifying at public hearings can be intimidating or unavailable for many consumers whose lives are most impacted by decisions made at the State Capitol,” Siobahn Kinney, the project diretor, said.

The project is funded by the Connecticut Health Foundation.

To participate, text the keyword: txt2bheard along with comments to: 24587.

For more information about the association, visit: www.chcact.org.