News Release

 

HHS Launches Youth Video Contest on Health Preparedness

Calling all young, creative producers with an eye for building community health preparedness: today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  launched the “My Preparedness Story: Staying Healthy and Resilient” video challenge. The challenge invites young people between the ages of 14 and 23 to submit a video—up to 60 seconds long—that answers the question, “How are you helping family, friends and your community to protect their health during disasters and every day?”

Natural disasters and other emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. Taking action ahead of an emergency can help individuals, families, and communities prevent or minimize potential health impacts. 

“Being prepared to protect health takes a whole community, and many young people help in meeting that challenge,” said Dr. Nicole Lurie, HHS’ assistant secretary for preparedness and response. “This contest gives them a chance to creatively describe how they’re helping communities become healthier and more resilient, and their videos can encourage their friends and families to take action as well.”

Thousands of young people across the country help their families, friends and communities prepare for disasters and emergencies. For example, they volunteer in health centers or with local Medical Reserve Corps units, stay current on first aid skills, develop home emergency plans, prepare emergency kits, and educate their families and friends about actions they can take to be healthy even when disaster strikes.

Prizes for the contest include $2,000 for the best overall video, $1,000 for the second-place video, and $500 for the third-best entry. Individuals and teams can enter the contest.

Videos must be submitted to https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/my-preparedness-story-staying-healthy-and-resilient/ between Jan. 4 and March 28, 2016. Staff from HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will select semifinalists from the eligible submissions, and the public will have an opportunity to rate the semifinalists’ entries to determine the winners on the challenge website.

Video submissions from people under age 18 must include a parental consent form. The complete list of rules and contest details are available online on the Federal Register’s website and phe.gov.

If you work with a school, student volunteer organization, or other group that works with young people, help ASPR get the word out! The agency has developed a digital engagement toolkit  to make spreading the word easy. The toolkit includes sample text for email or newsletter announcements and social media messages with graphics to help promote the challenge.

ASPR leads HHS in preparing the nation to respond to and recover from adverse health effects of emergencies, supporting communities’ ability to withstand adversity, strengthening health and response systems, and enhancing national health security. HHS is the principal federal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

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