Skip to main content Skip to site navigation
Institute for Local Government
Menu Menu

Subject Areas

TIERS Public Engagement Framework

Overview

TIERS Public Engagement Framework

TIERS Public Engagement Framework

The Institute for Local Government has developed a five pillar framework any local government can use to plan and execute public engagement efforts.

The TIERS Public Engagement Framework and its companion program, the TIERS Learning Lab, provide a step-by-step approach to public engagement at any level. For more information about ILG’s TIERS Learning Lab check out the video above or please contact publicengagement@ca-ilg.org.

Post

THINK

Step 1: Self-Assessment

Step 2: Consider Public Engagement Approach

Step 3: Contemplate Community Landscape

  • Create or update a list of local community based organizations (CBOs) and others to inform outreach efforts
  • Identify diverse locations to hold meetings with target audiences in mind
  • TIERS Community Landscape Template

Additional Resources

Post

INITIATE 

Step 1: Draft Public Engagement Approach

  • Choose a mix of in person and online activities

Step 2: Develop Outreach Plan

  • Create an Outreach Plan
    • Consider what you know from your ‘community landscape’ listing; who you are trying to reach, how much time and money is available
    • TIERS Outreach Template

Step 3: ‘Reality Check’ 

  • Are there local, state or federal laws or regulations you need to consider?
  • Are there internal organizational ‘politics’ or challenges to take into consideration? 
  • Are there larger ‘Political’ issues to keep in mind? 
    • For example: Is there an upcoming election? A significant recent incident?

Additional Resources

Post

ENGAGE

Step 1: Implement Outreach Plan

  • Implement your plan, prioritizing outreach 
  • Ensure targeted audiences are represented (authentically) within your plan
    • Double check with local leaders to ensure authentic voices are reached

Step 2: Implement Public Engagement Approach

Step 3: ‘Reality Check’

  • Are there internal organizational ‘politics’ or challenges that have changed and need to be considered? 
  • Check in with key community leaders on a regular basis to understand new or coming issues; mitigate accordingly 

Additional Resources

Post

REVIEW

Step 1: Evaluate Public Engagement Approach

  • What worked? What could have gone better?
  • Is training needed for any staffers in order to execute more effectively in the future? (e.g. facilitation skills; graphic design; survey question construction; meeting design)

Step 2: Evaluate Outreach Plan

  • What worked? What could have gone better? 
  • Is training needed for any staffers in order to execute more effectively in the future? (e.g. challenging people; communications skills; small group facilitation)
  • Are there community leaders who the agency should build stronger ties with? 

Step 3: What Barriers Did You Overcome?

  • What internal organizational barriers did you overcome?
  • What other political barriers did you overcome? 

Additional Resources

Post

SHIFT

Step 1: Internal Organizational 

  • Consider beneficial organizational shifts
    • For example: public engagement assigned within job description(s); commitment to train electeds and staff in public engagement policy and/or skills; ongoing communication strategies that go beyond traditional methods such as ethnic media
    • Send out periodic surveys to understand satisfaction with public engagement related efforts and policies
    • Ask for help when needed from organizations like ILG and/or consultants

Step 2: External- Your Community

  • Consider beneficial shifts in external relations
    • For example: set and track metrics related to in-person and phone meetings with diverse and underrepresented community members, choose time bound goals; engage with local leadership programs 

Step 3: Policy Change 

  • Consider policy review/change/adoption 
    • Commitment to review public engagement related policies if they have not been systematically reviewed in the last ten years
    • Adopt a resolution demonstrating commitment to public engagement 
Pod

TIERS Public Engagement Training
Sept. 9-10 2021

Log in

Commands