RESOLUTION NO. 061002

Congratulating the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department and the Kansas City office of Fleishman-Hillard International Communications for being named this years winners of the prestigious Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Award in the category of public service associations and nonprofits, recognizing outstanding achievement in strategic public relations planning and implementation, for their efforts to make the City a safer and healthier place through their Did You Take syPHILis Home Last Night campaign.

WHEREAS, Kansas City experienced a sudden 300 percent increase in the number of reported syphilis cases in 2005-06; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the threat to the publics health the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, through a grant provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, retained the services of Fleishman-Hillard International Communications to develop a public awareness campaign to combat the threat; and

WHEREAS, Fleishman-Hillard International Communications developed a public education campaign aimed at building awareness for prevention methods, as well as promoting free and confidential syphilis testing and treatment utilizing grassroots social marketing, newspaper and radio coverage, and communications with the health care professionals and community health volunteers; and

WHEREAS, the result was an increase of testing by 62 percent and the completion of more than 178 on-site syphilis tests among high-risk populations in Kansas City over the course of two months; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor, the City Council of Kansas City, and the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department are among the many people and organizations dedicated to improving the health in Kansas City, Missouri; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLEVD BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council of Kansas City hereby congratulate the aforementioned in their efforts to improve health in Kansas City, and encourage the continuation of such efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that copies hereof be presented to representatives of the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department and Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, and with the support of the Mayor and Council.

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