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Chapter 2
Engaging Your Community & New
Partners
Making change in community environments and social norms
requires the involvement and buy-in of many partners. Using the
strategies below, the Healthy Communities Projects sought out,
listened to, and engaged a variety of partners. They were
successful because they were able to:
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Step
outside the comfort zone of public
health to learn the language of city planners and developers
-
example
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Involve diverse
community members
-
example
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Communicate with the community about
successes and new opportunities
-
example
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Sustain an active leadership
group and advisory committee
- example
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Recruit volunteers to carry out
the action plan -
example
-
Pay special attention to
partners in the position to influence policy change -
example
-
Keep the focus on the action
plan and policy and environmental change by continuing to
educate community and key policy makers -
example
Lessons learned
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Focus on smaller cities or
neighborhoods within a large metropolitan area
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Be comfortable making personal
contacts with city planners, school administrators, and
community advocates
-
It’s all about building
relationships and trust - who should care about this work but
doesn’t know it yet
Example
Puyallup Safe Routes to School -
lessons
Sample tools and agendas
Communication plan
(WORD 57 KB)
Walkable Community comment card
(PDF 73 KB)
Potential partners for physical activity and nutrition
coalitions (WORD 33 KB)
Partner invitation letter (WORD 44 KB)
Resources
Building Diverse Community Based Coalitions
Healthy Eating & Physical Activity: Addressing Inequities in
Urban Environments
How to Create and Implement Healthy General Plans – tool kit
for city planners and public health advocates
Obesity in Latino Communities
Steps to a
Healthier Clark County Washington
◄Chapter
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