Creating Stories that Drive Policy and Social Change Storytelling Skill-Building Session Fall 2026
Sep 30, 2026 - Oct 28, 2026
Full course description
Johns Hopkins Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy,
Department of Health Policy and Management
at Johns Hopkins University
presents
Creating Stories that Drive Policy and Social Change: Storytelling Skill-Building Session (Fall 2026)
Virtual
Creating Stories that Drive Policy and Social Change is a comprehensive skill-building training designed to help public health and health professionals clearly and persuasively communicate complex health issues to the audiences who matter most—policymakers and the public.
Objectives
At the conclusion of this course/program, the learner will have:
- Understood the importance of effectively storytelling in shaping public health policy and practice.
- Developed and refined effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills that are tailored to specific audiences.
- Mastered the ability to quickly assess and adjust storytelling to maximize immediate resonance and long-term influence.
- Identified strategies for building trust and relationships so stories are authentic and told responsibly.
- Established network of professionals with shared and complementary experiences to exchange knowledge and support ongoing professional and personal growth.
List of Topics
- Week 1: The Power of Storytelling to Create Policy and Social Change
- Week 2: Identifying and Designing Impactful Stories
- Week 3: Creating Your Story to Drive Change – Part 1
- Week 4: Creating Your Story to Drive Change – Part 2
- Week 5: Sharing Your Story Responsibly
Who Should Attend
Public health and health professionals that desire to improve their storytelling skills and share their ideas with a variety of audiences. Advocates who want to tell compelling stories that drive change.
Program Structure
This non-credit/non-degree course runs from September 30 - October 28, 2026. Includes one live 90-minute session per week and approximately 1 hour worth of asynchronous content to complete outside of the live sessions. Weekly live sessions will take place on Zoom.
Certificate
After successfully completing the program, learners will receive a certificate of completion from the Johns Hopkins Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy. While not conveying academic credit, it will document the learner's competency in the knowledge and skills delivered in the program and successful completion of course requirements.
Additional Information
Continuing Education
Course completers can receive:
- Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH), pending approval by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
- Certified in Public Health (CPH) credits, pending approval by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
Course/Program Prerequisites
None.
Materials
All online content will be accessible via canvas.jhu.edu. All evaluation surveys will be hosted in Qualtrics.
Requirements for Learners
None.
Technical Prerequisites
Registration will take place on the Canvas LMS (Canvas.jhu.edu). You will need the ability to log on to the platform, preferably using Google Chrome, to complete registration.
Hardware requirements: computer; webcam; microphone and speakers or headset.
Software requirements: Google Chrome web browser; access to Canvas.jhu.edu; Zoom web conferencing; Microsoft Office or similar; email
Fee Structure
Registration is open from July 13 through September 1, 2026, All payments must be submitted by September 1 to confirm enrollment.
Refund Policy
Refunds will be available until the course start date, September 30, 2026.
You will receive a confirmation by email from Instructure. If you have not received it within 24 hours, email the Office of Online Education to confirm your payment was successful.
Johns Hopkins reserves the right to cancel or postpone any activity due to unforeseen circumstances. Under such circumstances, registrants will be notified as soon as possible.
For Further Information
For technical assistance with the course, Canvas.jhu.edu, or learnmore.jhu.edu, please email the Office of Online Education.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Johns Hopkins University fully complies with the legal requirements of the ADA and the rules and regulations thereof. Please notify us if you have any special needs.
Copyright Information
All rights reserved - Johns Hopkins University. No part of this program may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews.
Disclaimer Statement
The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty and other experts whose input is included in this activity are their own. This enduring material is produced for educational purposes only. Use of the Johns Hopkins University name implies review of educational format design and approach. Please review the complete prescribing information and safety profile of specific drugs or combination of drugs, including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.