OSC promotes change by increasing knowledge and empowering communities, and moderating behaviors, social norm and change over time. By creating increased community dialogue, communities make sustainable changes that build healthy communities.
OSC utilizes Behavior Change Communication (BCC) to increase the impact and sustainability of its community-based health education and improvement initiatives. Behavior change is an approach to develop a message and communications strategy development that relies on empirically supported theories of behavior formation to produce healthy outcomes for individuals and communities.
Peer education is at the center of many behavior change programs. It is developed through focused research, and relies on community input to develop and tailor messages that lead to risk-reducing behaviors. These are delivered through a variety of complementary communications channels, including one-on-one and group counseling sessions, community meetings, radio and television programming, and dramatic performances.