What to know
After developing a community profile, In Phase II, Getting Started, it is important to go to the community, meeting partners and residents. During this meeting, listen closely to the community and ask questions to begin to assess community environmental health needs.
Laying the Foundation for Productive Partnership
The early stages of engagement with a community present an opportunity to:
- Meet community partners
- Establish trust and credibility
- Validate concerns
- Set expectations, and
- Lay the foundation for productive partnerships
Your first community communications are informed by work you’ve already done to objectively develop a community profile and identify local partners. In Phase II, it is important to:
- Go to the community and meet with residents and local partners,
- Assess community environmental health needs, and,
- Make no assumptions about the community’s needs- ask, dialogue, and learn.
When conducting engagement in a community for the first time focus on listening to community concerns and preferences. It is important to build relationships and set expectations for what ATSDR can and cannot do.
Ask Yourself
- What did you learn from the community profile that will guide your engagement?
- What else is needed to effectively engage communities?
- How will you set and maintain expectations for what ATSDR can and cannot do?
- How will you address the community's concerns?
- How will you clarify the roles of ATSDR and those of other partners?
Keep in Mind
As you prepare to engage with a community, be aware of past community engagement. Activities like public health work and their respective legacies should be recognized, including work ATSDR was not involved in. Some communities may have worked with, or are currently working with, other federal, state, or local agencies. This means they may be further along in receiving support to address their concerns. Other communities may just be starting. Keep in mind there may be some trust and credibility issues or prior communication challenges to overcome. On the other hand, a community's positive interactions in the past may pave the way for smoother relationships in the present.