Workforce Activation
Communication Needs Assessment
The internal and external audience Blueprints are assessment tools that will enable the work group to identify communication objectives, circumstances and methods using a structured series of questions about each audience.
Blueprint Planning Framework:
- Who is our target audience?
- What is our objective with this audience?
- What are the circumstances and levels of severity for communication with this audience?
- What do we want them to do/know?
- What are the best methods for reaching this audience?
- What caveats should be considered?
Upon reviewing the assessment, the Communications Work Group identified the largest need was to establish a stronger internal communications flow for an emergency event. External audiences were also considered but already had an established framework and protocol for communication.
COMMUNICATION METHODS
Several different communication methods were identified by the Communications Work Group for internal audiences. An initial brainstorm of various methods were documented and assessed for functionality. The following communication methods were identified:
- Department-wide Public Health emails
- HealthBeat, an employee online newsletter
- Administrative emails to key target groups
- Staff meeting updates
- Department-wide distribution of printed flyers
- Recorded telephone hotline
- Web page updates
- Blast fax to external clinics
- Telephone call trees
The Public Information Call Center (PICC) was also noted as an effective communication tool but was a preferred method for reaching external stakeholders, not necessarily internal constituents that may potentially overload the phone system.
