Watts Healthcare Corporation Awarded $150,000 Grant, Social Media for Social Good Campaign

Los Angeles, February 12, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Watts Healthcare Corporation received a two-year, $150,000 grant from The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) to lead a collaborative that will explore the use of social media to reduce teenage pregnancy. The project will explore a variety of different social media campaigns and messages to assess which efforts are most effective at promoting positive behaviors, such as medical clinic visits and contraception use and practices.

"The most important step to initiate positive change with societal issues is to get people talking and sharing," said Julio Marcial, Program Director at TCWF. "This new social media campaign will help enlighten young people about the dangers of unprotected sex and introduce steps they can take to protect their sexual health. We are excited about the opportunity to leverage the power of social media sites to promote a critical message. We are confident this campaign will be vital to increase awareness about STD’s, HIV, and unplanned teenage pregnancy."

The collaborative includes the California Family Health Council, which will offer content expertise and assist with data collection. KPWR-FM (Power 106) and Incite will provide social media guidance and outreach. The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health will promote health and wellness, offer STD and HIV screenings, and assist with developing health messages to youth.

"Can Twitter and Facebook make a difference in teenagers’ decisions? That’s what we hope to learn," said William D. Hobson, Jr., President and CEO of Watts Healthcare Corporation. "We are very pleased to lead the collaborative and look forward to the next two years."

The first phase of the project will commence in January, with the first public campaign expected in the Spring. Activities funded under this grant from TCWF will be centered at the new Jordan Wellness Center operated by the Watts Healthcare Corporation. The Jordan Wellness Center is a new facility located on the grounds of David Starr Jordan High School, which will open later this year.