Community Engagement Toolkit

• There is no one-size-fits-all approach to community engagement. Each community is unique. Therefore, flexibility and adaptation are necessary.
• When planning and executing community engagement, avoid being too prescriptive or procedural – engagement needs to be in line with the values and needs of the community being served.
• What works in one place or worked in the past may not work the same way in another time, place, or with a different community.

Making Plans

Have backup plans. Set realistic goals and be prepared for what happens next if you do, or do not meet them.

Things to Consider:

• What will you do if expectations or deadlines are not met?
• What alternative approaches can you try?
• How can you expand on the engagement if it is more successful than anticipated?

Tools to Use:

• Planners
• Planning software
• Calendars
• Knowledge of available resources
• Relationship building

Resources for Making Plans:

• Choose Effective Policies and Programs from the CDC Community Health Improvement Navigator

Letting Community Members Lead

Let others take control and demonstrate flexibility by following their lead. Act as a facilitator or supporter. Think creatively about how to help the community reach its goals.

Things to Consider:

• How can you bolster the community’s pre-existing strengths?
• How can you be proactive, rather than reactive?

Tools to Use:

• Knowledge of community member skills
• Active listening

Open-mindedness

Flexibility requires humility and open-mindedness. It can be scary to do things differently than you have before – think about ways you can cope with that and focus on all the mutual benefits of the community engagement experience.

Things to Consider:

• Combating bias and practicing open-mindedness
• Coping with stress
• Focusing on the positives and remaining persistent

Resources for Open-mindedness:

• Project Implicit Bias Testing

This toolkit was originally created by NLM Fellow Allison Cruise in conjunction with the Office of Engagement & Training at the National Library of Medicine. Allison Cruise spent her 2nd Fellowship Year at UNM HSLIC.