Read About Engagement
“Engaging the hard to reach” means more than promoting programs to people who don’t participate.
It means talking with people on low income to understand their situations and learn how they think their needs can be addressed. It means listening to people who are not often listened to.
This section provides steps on how to meet and build relationships with “hard to reach” groups in your community.
What is Engagement? (pdf)
A backgrounder on the importance and benefits of involving community members in planning and decision-making processes.
Steps to Engagement Overview (pdf)
This tool outlines four steps to engaging community members who do not already participate.
Step 1: Community Entry (pdf)
Community entry simply means leaving your desk and going into the community. Learn about who is in your community and notice who isn’t participating.
Step 2: Relationship Building (pdf)
Lack of trust and familiarity with “the system” are key barriers to participation. Building trusting relationships with excluded community members can be a stepping stone to increasing participation.
Step 3: Partnerships (pdf)
Work with a variety of community agencies who can help you gain access to community members that you do not currently reach. Meet with groups to learn about them and their needs.
Step 4: Program Planning (pdf)
Once trust has been established, try developing programs with community members, not for them.
Community Engagement (pdf)
Additional resources for further research.
Do
In One Hour or Less (pdf)
A number of ways to take one step closer towards engaging community members who do not usually participate.
Discussion Group Planning (pdf)
A short document developed in preparation for discussion groups with clients of community partners. Included are logistics, responsibilities and sample discussion questions.
Physical Activity Picture Survey Posters - Vancouver Coastal Health (pdf)
When your target group may have low literacy skills, try using pictures instead of words to identify barriers and preferred activities. Hand out dot stickers or markers so people can indicate their answers according to visual cues.
