Topic 2.2 Developing Ways to Communicate with Community Members

Communication Strategies and Activities

Communication between community members and the public health assessment team should be open and should allow two-way information sharing. Community members need to provide the health assessor and other team members with information, and the public health assessment team needs to provide community members with information.

Communication methods should be tailored to fit the needs of the community at the site under investigation. If the community changes, methods might need to change, too. Methods used should allow people to express their ideas freely.

Communication methods might include use of

• one-on-one meetings, public meetings, and work group sessions
• fact sheets, newsletters, and posters
• newspaper, radio, and television announcements
• e-mail, letters, telephone calls, and Web sites