This involves conducting needs assessments, keeping abreast of what other social service agencies in the community are doing, practicing sensitive outreach methods, and utilizing input from advisory boards when developing service plans. Public education takes a variety of forms ranging from distributing flyers to being featured on television news programs. Moderate success has been found in mailing out an agency newsletter, hosting and attending community events, placing inserts in other publications, and delivering presentations. Obtaining public input is a challenging task for community-based organizations. There is difficulty involving the community in decision-making, and there is a bias against being associated with social services.
Methods currently employed include needs assessments, evaluation questionnaires and advisory groups.
It is imperative that the Department improve the quantity and quality of information currently shared with community-based organizations and other County departments. Improved communications regarding changes to programs and policies, referral information about shared clients, and higher visibility at community events were the most frequent suggestions. Senior Staff Four county employees were interviewed at length, two of whom are executive team members. The perspectives of these four respondents provided valuable information regarding the nature and type of communications currently needed by the Department and the feasibility of various public information methods. To maximize the informational impact, these messages must be conveyed in a coordinated, strategic manner which build upon current methods and employs additional media relations strategies.