LET’S GET ENGAGED:BUILDING COMMUNITY

RESOURCES

Kristen B. Miller, RN, MSN, CLS Virginia Berry White, LMSW

McLeod Nurse-Family Partnership Family Solutions of the Low Country

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INTRODUCTIONS FROM GROUP

•Name

•Agency

•Expectations for Session

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TOOLKIT

ICEBREAKER

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OBJECTIVES

To effectively drive action within your communities to access available resources;To create excitement about your program through community engagement and participation, developing a powerful network of local partnerships;To identify barriers and/or challenges when forming networks or partnerships;To maximize existing and new initiatives, current partnerships, and new innovations to deepen overall impact within a community.

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Vision is the art of

seeing things

Invisible

Jonathan Swift

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WHAT IS OUTREACH?

• To begin, we must all understand and embrace outreach, which is an integral part of forming relationships

• A key component of outreach is that the groups providing it are not stationary, but mobile. So in other words, they are meeting those in need of outreach services or learning about the program in the community in which they provide services.

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OUTREACH BUILDS BRIDGES

Outreach is defined as a two-way communication between your agency and stakeholders to establish and foster a mutual understanding, promote shared involvement, and influence actions.

Outreach is reaching out to people who are not using any of the services provided by your agency and informing and educating them about your services, thus building a trusting network and relationship.

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PIECE BY PIECE

• Outreach efforts result in developing a liaison between the agency and the community

• Improves community awareness, trust and accurate understanding of your mission, program and successes

• Increases collaboration and communication with community members, stakeholders and key partners

• Share resources and exchange ideas

• Increase program attendance

• Most importantly, when conducted consistently, outreach can stimulate behavioral change and increase community “buy in” from proven program successes

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ENLIST KEY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BE YOUR

AMBASSADORSAt McLeod NFP we have partnerships with:

• First Steps for School Readiness in each county

• District Solicitor's Office for all 5 counties (have gotten $3000+ in donated baby items to date after just 1.5yrs)

• Reach Out and Read/First Book/Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

• Local School Districts (Having support from Principals, School RNs and Counselors)

• Each County's Coordinating Councils led by State Legislative Representative (From Senate or House of Reps)

• Safe Kids/Cribs for Kids

• Local Quilting Guilds, ex. Linus Projects

• Faith-based communities-- as several churches have embraced our mission

• Local non-profits with similar causes

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• Community not aware of the issues affecting the community

• Trust issues

• Change is a slow process

• Community may be slow to accept the services you are offering

• Difficult to convince people that you can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results

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KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE CONTINUING THE EFFORTS TO BUILD

• How far are you willing to go?

• What if the community suggest something totally different than what you’re offering/planning?

• Is your organization involved in supporting community improvements

• After finding answers to the above questions, you are ready to move forward and…

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DEEPEN YOUR IMPACT

•Conduct Needs Assessment – Cultural Assessment, Community Resource inventory and Community Asset Mapping

•Know your issue and program

•Create a list of Stakeholders

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Trust

Building

Community

Leadership Development

Community

Needs

Community

Input

Connect

with

Community

SystemsShowingRespect of

Community

DRIVING ACTION

TO

ACCESS RESOURCES

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INCREASE YOUR COMMUNITY’S AWARENESS OF YOUR PROGRAM

• Conceive a Game Plan after you have the results of your needs assessment

• Build a Coalition or Advisory Board

• Start engaging with key decision-makers

• Develop Outreach Materials and meetings

• Select your potential Stakeholders

• Recruit volunteers

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INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY AWARENESS & EXCITEMENT

BUILDING

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PLAN AND EXECUTE

• Begin the process to form local partnerships

• Bring everyone together and to the table

• Align resources

• Implement the collaborations

• Sustain the momentum and communicate regularly

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POWERFUL NETWORK OF LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

• Healthcare Professionals (ex: FSLC PAN)

• Local leaders in industry

• Elected officials

• Local Businesses

• Members of the Community(ex: FSLC CAN)

• Transportation providers

• Schools

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EVALUATE

• Successful collaborations monitor progress

• Continue coordination efforts and track any necessary data

• Acknowledge what works and doesn’t work

• Change and amend any practices as necessary

• Determine the long-term sustainability

• Share the best practices to help others learn from your experiences and successful partnerships

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SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE

Provide regular “Thank You’s” (via hand-written note, gift, marketing material, etc.) to show your appreciation for their partnership, support, and commitment to help your program succeed

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WISE WORDS TO REMEMBER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzNHuGqoMc

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Questions?

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CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kristen B. Miller, RN, MSN, CLS Virginia Berry White, LMSW

Manager/NFP Supervisor Director/Administrator

McLeod Nurse-Family Partnership Family Solutions of the Low Country

300 South Dargan Street 1732 Village Park Drive

Florence, SC 29560 Orangeburg, SC 29116

843.777.6479 803.531.8008

kmiller@mcleodhealth.org vwhite.FSLC@scorh.net

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