Help with Health Fair!

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I have been wanting to put on a health fair for a couple years now, and I was just asked to submit a brief "proposal" of what I would like to do along with an approximate cost. I have an idea of what I want to do, but I have never done this before and have no idea how much $$ to ask for? There is no guarantee of what they would give, but I can at least ask for what I want.

Has anyone done this before, and do you have any idea how much $$ I should ask for? Most of the presenters would come for free, but I know there is always incidental costs associated with this. Any thoughts? They want an answer ASAP, and I just found out about it!

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

Wow! When we did ours, all the presenters came for free. We had people come from the local hospital, the local pharmacy, a chiropractor, Highmark insurance, we had the elementary kids make "wellness" posters that the community could vote on. Pretty much the only money we spent was on posters for advertising, water/snacks for the presenters and extra custodial duties for the building we did it in. Maybe you could work off of that.

[tewdles, RN]

My experience is that costs generally come from marketing/advertising. Most things you would give as "gifts" can be donated. Health fairs need to have fun things for kids and adults to do, sometimes there is cost assoc with that.

Overall, they are wonderful and practical events which improve staff morale and community opinion of the organizing agency...and very possibly improve health behaviors in the community as well.

Good luck.

[Allie911]

The participants for ours came for free, some asked how much we would charge them to come, so there is an option of charging a small fee for vendors to come and then use that money for door prizes or other fees you might have. I had the high school health class help put on the health fair, so they made many of the phone calls and helped set up tables and clean up afterward. It was a great project for them and helped me a ton.

[bergren]

These links on how to put on a health fair may help you itemize the costs:

1. Health Fair Planning Guide

Has a budget section:

Major items that should be included in the budget

• Publicity and promotion costs.
  
• Rental of tables, chairs, audiovisual equipment, other equipment.
  
• Decorations.
  
• Refreshments and lunches for participants, volunteers, and people in vendor booths.
  
• Permits and insurance requirements.
  
• Printing.
  
• Mailing, including promotional and follow-up.
  
• Screening and other vendor costs.
  
• Give subcommittees their allocations.
  

2. http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/wellness/Health%20Fair%20Planning%20Guide.pdf

3. http://www.worldhealthfairs.org/WHF/guide.pdf

Has a budget section

4. Planning a Health Fair - Planning Health Fairs

budget section

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Great tips, everyone. Thank you!