Here are some steps you can take when planning health and safety events/activities:

1. Set Program Goals/Objectives
Be sure to have a clear idea of what goals and objectives you have for an activity. If you know what you want to accomplish, it is easier to keep focused. Organization and focus will help ensure that your message is direct and well received. With every program and activity your group should strive to...

• Promote safe choices to avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs while offering alternatives to these high-risk behaviors.
  
  
• Present educational programs in a fun and interactive manner.
  
  
• Challenge misconceptions about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
  
  
• Serve as educational resources for our peers.
  
  
• Be positive role models.
  
  
• Collaborate with other student organizations to promote overall health and wellness.
  
  

2. Choose an Activity
Choose an activity that your peer education group can handle. If your group is fairly small and you don’t have a lot of time, choose activities that are quick and don’t require a lot of workers, but still send a clear message of underage drinking prevention and safe driving practices.

3. Location, Location, Location
Decide upon and familiarize yourself with the location of your event. If you are decorating, view the area ahead of time and decorate or place posters in places where they will be most visible. If you are planning an outside activity, such as in the parking lot at your school or athletic stadium, please check for safe areas, wear visible clothing, and let security know of your plans.

4. Choose a Title
Use creative titles when planning your program. It is easier to get your peers excited about an event with an interesting or fun name. Things like “Traffic Safety” or “Impaired Driving Prevention” are red flags for boredom! Brainstorm exciting titles for your activity. It might seem like a small detail, but it could make a big difference in the attitude and participation of the students.

5. Get Permission
Make sure that you have permission or have communicated with the school principal and security to assure that it is okay for you to conduct your activity in the location that you have chosen. Also make sure that you conduct your activity at a time when many students can be involved.

6. Collaborate With Other Groups
Double your power by doubling the people involved. Partner with other groups to cut down on the amount of work your group can do. You can choose to take turns hosting activities with other groups or organizations in your school or you can choose to work together. Approach some of the following groups with your ideas. I bet they will be excited for the opportunity to work on such an important project.

• Student Government
  
  
• Cheerleaders and Pep Club
  
  
• Athletic Teams
  
  
• After School Clubs
  
  

7. Make a Timeline
Determine a schedule and assign tasks. Make sure the deadlines and tasks you have assigned are reasonable and reachable. Use a backward planning method to set up tasks and promote your activity. In other words, starting with the date that your activity will occur, work your way backward on the calendar to determine ideal times to do promotion and preparation for your activity. Making a calendar and assigning tasks will keep you on track. Even if the atmosphere gets very hectic, you can refer back to the calendar for information.

Here is a list of tasks that will need to be completed by an individual or a committee:

• Activity planning
  
  
• Decorations
  
  
• Clean up
  
  
• Prizes/giveaways
  
  
• Evaluation/survey
  
  
• Make and put up posters
  
  

8. Promote Your Event/Activity
It pays to advertise! When making posters, give information that explains what you are doing and why. Providing information about how the activity works and why it is important will help students appreciate your efforts and will help them remember more of the information you are providing to them.

9. Evaluate Your Event/Activity
Ask your audience to evaluate your presentation or activity by completing a short evaluation or questionnaire. Ask questions like:

• What did you learn from today’s event that you didn’t know before?
  
  
• What did you like best about the presentation?
  
  
• Was the presenter knowledgeable?
  
  
• What would you do to improve the program?
  
  

When the program is over, compile and review your audience’s evaluations and discuss the results. Sit down with your group and talk about what went well and what you would change.

Here are some things that you may want to discuss:

• How early should the planning begin?
  
  
• Which groups were the best to co-sponsor with?
  
  
• Who else could have helped?
  
  

10. Show Some Appreciation
There is nothing more powerful than a “thank you” to make someone feel appreciated and also make that person more willing to help out on the next project. A simple card or letter can go a long way to say thank you for work well done. Especially, thank any guest speakers that may have donated their time to come to your school to give a presentation.