This section is devoted to assisting a public child welfare agency successfully embed communications into their agency, providing guidance for the implementation of the communications plan and addressing the basics needed to be successful. It also illustrates the role of communications within an agency and how the agency can foster relationships and engage members of the community to join in efforts that support its mission.
As discussed in other sections, effective, two-way communications is vital to the success of any public child welfare agency. Whether communicating with the youth and families receiving services, caregivers, staff, media, policymakers, the courts, allied professionals, contracted providers or other stakeholders, the agency must be able to clearly explain its mission and goals and respond to inquiries in a candid and open way in order to build support and meet its objectives. Because communications is such an important part of the agency’s work, it is equally important that at least one person in the agency be charged with the function of coordinating the agency’s communications efforts. In addition, every agency, big or small, needs a communications plan (even a simple one) for everyday operations, as well as a plan that will guide the agency through times of crisis.The Resource Library is a virtual database containing resources created by the CEEWB, as well as links to outside resources such as mainstream media articles and reports, research studies, policy and issue briefs, peer-reviewed articles, data sets, toolkits, and more related to workforce engagement issues, from a range of sources. The views expressed in materials by outside sources do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center for Employment & Economic Well-Being or the American Public Human Services Association.
Discusses crafting and disseminating agency messages; identifying roles for management, staff and external stakeholders; and identifying when and how to communicate a communications strategy.
Discusses organizational capacities and resources, as well as low or no cost communications strategies.
External Factors Influencing Communications
Offers techniques for handling external factors that may hinder communications efforts and capitalizing onto external factors that enhance communications.
Confidentiality Considerations and Challenges To Transparency
Discusses the tension between confidentiality concerns and desire for greater agency transparency.
Branding and Social Marketing
Discusses agency image and utilization of commercial marketing and communications techniques to public child welfare.