Problem/Objective: Wisconsin's Sustaining States Group needed to effectively and persuasively communicate the successes and impact of the tobacco control program. The goal: Increase awareness and build capacity to tell powerful tobacco control stories to policy makers.

Methods: Behavior change strategies were used to promote and support telling tobacco control stories. Key messages included: stories are a persuasive communication tool; everyone can collect and use stories and individuals who have directly benefited from the tobacco control program will tell the most compelling stories.

Strategies included: • Modeling how to tell stories through a webcast, creating a webpage and sharing examples of how stories were currently being used. • Providing practical tools including lessons learned, sample release forms, and tips for making stories powerful. • Reinforcing action with prompts including articles in the online newsletter. • Asking for specific commitments.

Results: •Several groups have incorporated story telling into their plans for Joint Finance hearings •Lessons learned from organizations and groups already using stories were compiled and shared •Opportunities to collaborate between local and state partners were identified •Practical, useful work tools were created and shared •Storytelling was identified as a topic for the state conference

Conclusions: Providing models, practical tools, and reminders increased awareness and intent to use stories more effectively when communicating with policy makers.

As one webcast participant shared “ the information shared …… was “just common sense”, but hearing it taught me how to use storytelling more effectively.”