Step 5: Facilitate Discussions With Representatives From Community Organizations Connected With At-risk Populations

Ongoing engagement of your partners and representatives from community organizations is important throughout each phase of this process. You can host a meeting or conference call with the representatives of community organizations that you have already identified to discuss the issues involved as you locate at-risk populations. Talking with representatives of community organizations that serve at-risk populations, including those that address human service needs as well as community needs, is essential to determine which organizations can help you the most. Not every community representative will have a role to play in the "locate" phase, but they can be valuable connections to reach groups and to disseminate health or emergency information. This dialogue will enable you to meet community collaborators who can help you learn where to locate at-risk population groups. Ask community collaborators to explain:

• The populations they serve
• How they distribute and receive information
• Their classification as an overarching organization or a direct service provider
• What their potential outreach could be—the number of organizations and/or individuals this collaborator or partner could reach with ordinary and crisis communications