Over the years, many visitors to the SPARC site have asked us how they could get involved and help out on a local level. One way that people can help support the SPARC site and its goals is by raising awareness of the problems that fathers and children face in divorce and custody situations. To assist in this effort, SPARC has produced a Media Handout Package that you can print out at your home or office and distribute as you see fit.

Select the various Media Pack items from the list box. To view or print the Media Pack item, click on the page image. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the full-size image. To download the file, right-click on the page image and select "Save as...". You may also download a .ZIP file of the complete Media Pack with all the printable images by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Available Media Pack Items: SPARC 'Tear-off style' poster General Use Tri-Fold Information For Educators The Silent Majority Divorcing Fathers Need Help Fathers Deserve An Even Break Two-per-page SPARC Flyer Female Domestic Violence Working With Your Attorney Media Pack Item Description: "Fathers Deserve An Even Break!" - Tear-off style poster, good for use on public notice boards or announcement boards. This is the single most effective poster style. The bottom half is divided into "tear-off strips" that are pre-cut before distribution. These are usually stacked or stapled two or three "deep" so more tear-off strips are available.

(Click on the image to view it)

The Media Handouts can be used in a variety of ways- they may be placed in a general location so the general public sees them, or in specific locations to target a select audience.

Material Placement: Obviously, the most effective place to put these materials are in places where fathers in need will see them. Courthouses are an ideal place- most have public notice boards, and all have mens restrooms. (Although it sounds a bit odd at first, mens restrooms in courthouses are practically guaranteed to be one of the most effective places to target.) Grocery stores are another good place to consider- almost all have public notice boards you can make use of. Attorney's offices are an ideal location if you can get them to be receptive to the idea behind the materials. (This will be an uphill battle in some instances.)

Another very effective means of distribution is available in your local paper- most carry notices in the legal section of recently filed divorces. It's a simple matter to note the names and then use an internet phone or people-finder directory to find their addresses and telephone numbers. By contacting the people whose names appear in these notices you will be achieving virtually a 100% effective "hit" rate.

Information kiosks are found in malls, in the lobbies of office buildings, banks, and many other public places. These kiosks usually have between ten and twenty different brochures on various subjects. These kiosks are excellent places to leave a stack of the tri-fold information brochures.

Note that many of these kiosks also carry brochures on domestic violence, however, they will often be filled with misleading information and "facts". They almost always portray men as the violent spouse and women as the victims, when in fact the rate for committing domestic violence is roughly equal between men and women.

In light of this situation, you may wish to take it upon yourself to remove the original (misleading) domestic violence brochures and replace them with the SPARC version, which presents things in a more realistic light. Doing this prevents the biased brochures from being circulated and spreading misinformation, while at the same time making truthful information available to those who need it.

We suggest dispensing Media Handout materials such as the tri-fold brochures in small quantities- this allows more locations to be supplied, and prevents losing more than a few if they are removed by someone who doesn't agree with SPARC's goals. By leaving a few in various spots and noting how quickly they are taken (or removed), you will easily be able to judge how often to "restock" or replace the materials.

The SPARC Media Handouts are contained in a single small ZIP file, making them easy to download. As more brochures and flyers are created, the ZIP file will be updated.

SPARC is actively seeking sample flyer and brochure designs. Use your creative talents and make up your own brochure, poster or flyer and send it in to us- it may be included in the next Media Handout package!

Submission Guidelines:

• Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format (any version of Word).
• Please try to keep file sizes small whenever possible (generally under 300K).
• Black and white designs only, please, unless your color images convert well to black and white.
• Some sample images will be available for your use, but feel free to create your own.
• Designs must fit on a standard 8.5" x 11" sheet, with a 0.5" (minimum) margin on all sides.
• Please ZIP all files submitted. Designs may be sent in .