Partner Spotlight: SLCMAD in Action

Author: Michele Rehbein

The challenges mosquito control professionals face today aren’t new—but how we communicate about them can be. That’s the driving idea behind Yesterday’s Threats, Today’s Solutions (YTTS), a national campaign designed to elevate our field, engage the public in more meaningful ways, and provide ready-to-use tools for outreach and education.

As someone who’s been involved in developing the YTTS campaign from the beginning, I’ve had a front-row seat to watch it grow—from a bold concept into a dynamic, field-ready resource. It’s designed to bridge the gap between experts and the communities we serve, equipping us with materials that are not only informative, but also approachable and engaging.

At the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District (SLCMAD), we’re always looking for new ways to connect with our community—so we jumped right in. We’ve already started putting the campaign into practice and are seeing firsthand how it strengthens outreach, sparks conversations, and helps showcase the real people behind mosquito control.

One of the first campaign elements we used was the social media graphics. We frequently partner with local college students on mosquito-related research projects, and when those collaborations lead to publications, we love highlighting their work. The YTTS graphics gave us a fresh, engaging way to do that.

As mosquito season approaches, we’ve begun shifting our focus to public-facing posts about repellent use and prevention tips—again using the campaign visuals to boost engagement. Meep, the campaign’s mischievous spokescreature, has been an especially fun and flexible addition. Whether featured at the forefront or subtly, Meep helps tie everything back to the larger YTTS message.

We’ve also included the campaign link in our Linktree, highlighted it during presentations at events like the West Central Mosquito and Vector Control Association meeting, and are preparing to integrate YTTS materials into our in-person tabling events this spring.

What makes this campaign different is that it goes beyond the basics of mosquito prevention. It puts the spotlight on us—the professionals doing the work behind the scenes. It not only educates the public, but also encourages their support and involvement. It makes the work feel more human and relatable.

We’ve already seen positive responses—people are resharing our posts, and there’s real enthusiasm among our peers about using the materials. For me, the moment it all clicked was at the AMCA 2025 meeting, when the campaign was formally introduced. That’s when it stopped being just an idea and really came to life.

If I could offer one piece of advice to others in the field, it would be this: don’t be afraid to show your human side. Let your community see the people behind the work and why it matters to you. The more they connect with you, the more they’ll understand and support what we do.

If you’re just getting started with YTTS, I highly recommend downloading the Partner Toolkit and exploring the Resource Hub. There’s already a lot of helpful material available—and more is being added all the time. You can even share your own district’s resources to support others across the country.

Mosquitoes aren’t going anywhere. But with the right tools, the right message, and a bit of creativity, we can build stronger community connections—and make real progress, together.