March is Living Well Month

A Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Science
Public Service Campaign sponsored by NEAFCS

Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Science Educators have been providing educational services to improve the lives of individuals and families in their communities for over 100 years. Yet, name recognition and general knowledge of services provided by FCS faculty and staff in their local service areas continues to elude many residents. Significantly, county, state and national legislators who administer funding for Cooperative Extension Services may be completely unaware of the significant, successful programming developed and managed by FCS faculty and/or county educators.

To establish and maintain name recognition for the Extension FCS Programs and raise public awareness of Extension FCS services in local communities, statewide and nationally, NEAFCS began efforts to establish a public awareness campaign in 2000. Extension FCS Educators have access to promotional materials on this web page to help promote and support local and state initiatives in nutrition, healthy lifestyles, food safety, financial management, parenting and environmental health enable citizens to gain knowledge and skills to lead full and productive lives. Extension FCS Educators need to adopt creative marketing strategies to maintain and expand the reach of Extension FCS programming and to show pride in their profession.

Personalize your Living Well Month Public Service Campaign using the materials listed below or use your creativity to help us expand options for our NEAFCS members. When planning, use this Madison Avenue advertising adage: “Get the message out 10 different times, 10 different ways.” Identify one to three target audiences and develop a plan. Keep it simple, so it stays manageable. Include a Living Well logo with the slogan, “Raising Kids, Eating Right, Spending Smart, Living Well” on your email signature. Wear your NEAFCS lapel pin to community meetings and on your Extension apron during your public workshops. Got the idea? Please see more options for a Living Well Month Project in the links below.

Marketing/Promotion Materials for Living Well Month

In 2023, the Public Affairs Advocacy Committee has created some brand new materials to help you promote Living Well to your friends, communities, and colleagues. 

• Living Well Logo
• Press Release
• Social Media Guide
• March 2024 Living Well Month Calendar - this file is now available as a PDF that has a space at the top-left corner for your to add your own contact information, or other messaging to. 
• March 2024 Living Well Month Calendar - Weekly. These weekly images can be used in your social media to promote Living Well Month or to promote a specific item in a week. You can download them by clicking the following links: First Week, Second Week, Third Week, Fourth Week, Fifth Week, and Sixth Week
• Fully updated Living Well Videos (NEAFCS Living Well Month YouTube Full Playlist):
• Physical Wellness
• Emotional Wellness
• Environmental Wellness
• Financial Wellness
• Intellectual Wellness
• Occupational Wellness
• Social Wellness
• Spiritual Wellness

Archive of Additional Marketing/Promotional Ideas

Tips and Ideas for How to Use the Marketing/Promotional Items

When you interact with city or county government officials draw attention to the educational programs and services provided with a proclamation tailored to your area.

• Proclamation Template, Living Well Month - Updated for 2024

Edit this news release template to reflect your programming. Distribute to media and use in your county or program newsletter. Schedule a live interview with a local radio station DJ or news reporter.

• Living Well Month News Release Template

Use the Living Well Month themes in displays at community events, or your office. Include in handouts at public workshops.

Use Living Well logos in Graphics Library in your email signature and other documents.

Prepare and share a local FCS Program Fact Sheet or Impact Statement with stakeholders and/or local elected officials.

• Get started with Storytelling Tips

Be creative sharing ways that Extension FCS Educators serve their communities.

Tips & Ideas for How to Use the Marketing/Promotional Items:

• Example of how to utilize materials from Kentucky Affiliate 

Document your activities.

• Survey, Living Well Month (updated survey coming soon!)

Learn more about the history and benefit of Family and Consumer Sciences Public Relations Campaigns:

• Review a brief History of Living Well Month

Revised by NEAFCS Public Affairs Advocacy Committee members, staff, and Christine Zellers, NEAFCS Vice President for Public Affairs, 2/15/2024.
Revised by NEAFCS Public Affairs Advocacy Committee members, staff, and Jennifer Bridge, NEAFCS Vice President for Public Affairs, 2/22/2022.
Revised by NEAFCS Public Affairs Advocacy Committee members and Glenda Hyde, NEAFCS Vice President for Public Affairs, 12/15/2016.
NEAFCS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action association. NEAFCS values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. Membership is not by invitation. (Strategic Plan 1993-97)