Familiarize yourself with the members of the school or community. An understanding of the diversity of the community will help determine how to solve potential problems. Getting a sense of what community members' priorities are will help you assess what needs to be done and how to approach the school or community. Identify the respected leaders in the community. Work with the respected leaders in the community to better understand the history and needs of the community.
Experienced leaders can share insight into effective community outreach.
Identify and work with communication channels. Build a strong line of communication within the school or community to raise awareness about potential environmental health risks. Effective lines of communication increase participation and can ease fears and misconceptions. Make meetings accessible. Increasing community participation requires scheduling meetings and events at convenient times and in places that are perceived as safe and welcoming to all community members.