Resources & Tools

So, how do you "do" community engagement?

There are as many different ways to "do" community engagment as there are different communities. Different strategies will work better for different parts of the community and under different circumstances. In addition, the use of multiple, overlapping strategies is usually the most effective. Strategies include hosting and participating in community meetings, focus groups, interviews, talking circles, special events and more.

Different sets of skills are also needed in community engagement, including data collection (qualitative and quantitative), data analysis, facilitation, and more. In addition, there are many ready-to-use tools that can assist with various aspects of engaging a community.

You will find resources and information on how to chooose tools, important strategies and skills, tools, as well information on evaluating your success linked from this Web page.

• Choosing tools

  • Characteristics of needs assessment tools
  • Choosing programs: Is this program right for us?

   

• Strategies and skills

  • Community engagement strategies: opportunities to participate
  • Brief overview of data collection methods (e.g., focus groups, interviews, forums, hearings, surveys and resource inventories)
  • When to use focus groups

   

• Tools

  • Community opinion survey
  • Guide to Health Indicators and Data Sources
  • Sample survey of community activities

 

• Evaluating your success

  • Coalitions: Is your coalition on the road to success?

Can't find what you are looking for?
Contact us at 651-201-3880 or ophp@health.state.mn.us