Sara Nelson, Ma Email and Phone Number

I raise awareness about 988, the national suicide prevention lifeline which is managed through SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration). Some major tasks include:- planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating this major and complex public health communication program and campaign.- providing communications expertise and application of marketing principles and methods.- directing and guiding development, testing, and timely dissemination of science- and audience-based products, tools, and messages to different audiences in a variety of formats (i.e., print, video, Web).

Oversee internal and external communications for the Veterans Health Administration - Chief Strategy Office and collaborate with the policy team for areas of crossover. Act as project manager for team to ensure all communications deliverables are met. Conduct a communications assessment, develop communications plans, manage newsletter, create digital annual report, and assist sub-offices with messaging and other communications needs.

Lead communications for a $4 billion national project to rebuild public health infrastructure. Develop and oversee communications plan including assessing needs and priorities, developing strategy, conducting research, aligning to Agency goals, conducting a branding audit, and developing messaging. Develop and maintain editorial calendar. Develop and oversee social media. Audiences include CDC leadership, policymakers, general public, interest groups, and grant recipients. Outreach to national partners. • Recipient of CDC Director’s Award for Moving Forward: Public Health Infrastructure Grant (team award).• Nominated for Center Director’s Award for Innovation for grantee profile webpage. • In 6-month span, recognized three times for top engaging social media content across all CDC posts.• Social media posts featured twice by Office of Communications for demonstrating health communications’ best practices.• Developed first-of-its kind grantee profile webpage that was recognized by high-level leadership including CDC Director; extended national reach of webpage through large partner network and internal reach through e-newsletters and feature article; webpage had over 2300 views within 2 weeks of launching.

Plan and run modern COVID-19 media and outreach campaigns targeting high-risk workers. Solicit, select, and manage media, research, and outreach vendors. Oversee all aspects of each vendor's work including:- Media - discovery and strategy, creative testing, creative concepting and production, paid and organic dissemination, contract management, and reporting.- Research - planning, survey development and implementation, discussion guide development, focus group facilitation, report of findings, and contract management.- Outreach - plan development, train-the-trainer, media review, reporting, and contract management.

Manage a 3-month, multi-million statewide media campaign on COVID-19 contact tracing. Involved fast paced management of multilingual campaign and media vendor including creative development, alignment with Governor's Office and other entities, paid media, and social media listening and community management. Assess local public health department communication needs and plan for a second phase of the media campaign.

Campaign manager for a 1-year, $2 million statewide public health media campaign on Valley fever. Manage all aspects of the multilingual campaign, including formative research, audience segmentation, creative production, creative testing, media buy, dissemination, and evaluation. Final media included both digital and traditional formats. Shepherd all assets through a rigorous review process involving subject matter experts and leadership at different levels. Guide the campaign team in best practices for communications campaigns. Manage vendor contract and invoicing.2021 PHAME Award for Outstanding Achievement - peer-nominated award for this campaign

I started Soda Creek Consulting because I saw the need for communications consulting in different projects across government, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. These entities needed a self-starter who knew community engagement and could be flexible enough to help with or lead any and all aspects of communications and outreach projects: strategy and planning, project management, formative research, creative production, dissemination, curriculum development, and community involvement.Working as an independent consultant requires drive and accountability, which are skillsets I was happy to offer to my clients for more than a decade in this role.Project Examples:- Public Health Communications Campaign - State of New Mexico Department of HealthOversee a statewide public health communications campaign to prevent sexual violence. Included formative research, communication plan development, messaging, asset development, and dissemination. Work closely with stakeholders to ensure content is culturally appropriate and strength-based. - Health Disparities Prevention Project – National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (with the Altarum Institute)Provide bilingual communications technical assistance on a 5-year national community health worker initiative. Included developing plain language health tools, heart health digital toolkit, and train-the-trainer curricula, and conducting formative research.- Messaging Research - Health Resources & Services Administration (with the Altarum Institute)Evaluate effectiveness of health communication messages through market research in multiple states for a national mass-marketing campaign for Spanish-speaking adults on emergency communication.- Healthy Eating Marketing Campaign - Presbyterian Healthcare ServicesDevelop communications infrastructure for county health communications campaign. Conduct market research and develop communications plan, messaging, branding, and assets.For additional examples, contact me.

Develop and manage bilingual (English/Spanish) database of community resources. Ensure community input and database/site usability for low-literacy audiences. Develop network of statewide partners. Create train-the-trainer program for community health workers to expand outreach.

Managed community engagement program for immigrant families. Designed and oversaw health communications project that trained low-income women to develop community media and become technology trainers.