How to Use the Information
As your COIN continues to grow, you will want to ensure that you keep in touch with the members and that you are incorporating their input into your existing communication and emergency operations plans.
Update your database. In your existing database, add vertical headings (such as barriers, channels, and messages) and enter the new information from your assessment on barriers for at-risk populations, preferred channels of communication, and the messages ranked most effective by your focus groups. This information will be an excellent resource and help you keep focused on the goals you have set.
Enhance your communication plan to reach at-risk populations. Using key findings from your surveys, focus groups, and other searches, along with the information in your database, you can enhance your existing communication plan to include at-risk population groups and to designate the appropriate, trusted spokespersons. Be sure to include members of the at-risk populations in your planning sessions. Encourage them to provide input so that your communication plan is feasible and appropriate.
Your plan could be a supplement to your organization’s existing crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) plan, or it could be incorporated into the body of the CERC plan itself. Elements to address in your communication plan include:
- Identifying the roles played by state, local, and tribal officials and staff, public agencies and service providers, CBOs, and members of your COIN. This element is often overlooked in communication plans and can lead to confusion, duplication of effort, and turf issues
- Defining your at-risk population groups
- Finding these intended audiences and their gathering places
- Developing strategies to describe your approach to achieve your goals and objectives around reaching at-risk populations
- Developing specific tools and tactics to address gaps
