Agenda - Planning Commission - 12/04/2014

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Strategies to Improve Communities Engage Modern government might be better viewed as a social network rather than "the cockpit from which society is governed." The more modes of opportunity that allow direct citizen engagement, the more accurately government represents public consensus about decisions and priorities.5 Dynamic partnerships can dramatically increase the effectiveness and buy -in for government programs. Your largest partner in governing is your residents. Partnerships also involve the private sector, community -based organizations and other government organizations. Partnerships allow actors to learn from each other's experiences with the effect of increasing efficiency and ultimately improving the breadth and quality of a community. By collaborating with others, government can garner a broader range of resources. Partnering with Your Residents Residents are the heart of any community. By contributing their time, energy and talents, resident volunteers pump the life blood of thriving towns and cities. Residents who donate their time serve in many roles — neighborhood organizers, park volunteers, senior center ride providers, and more. However, although all communities have a wide range of sources for volunteers, volunteers often are an untapped resource, in many instances simply because residents are not asked to contribute. Volunteers can benefit government outside of direct service also. Volunteers create community ownership and generate public support for government by sharing their positive experiences with others in their community. Studies have found that levels of public trust are higher in communities with higher levels of civic engagement.6 Maximizing the benefits of volunteers takes commitment, planning, time, and organization. Governments should spend time considering whether and why they want to work with volunteers and develop a philosophy for the overall engagement of volunteers. Volunteers should never be considered "free help" but rather extensions of paid staff engaged in the fulfillment of a government's mission. Although there are no guarantees that all volunteers will be beneficial for an organization, 5 What I Learned: An Insider's Guide to Improving Local Government Modest proposals for fixing local government in America by James G. Kostaras AIA, AICP / Summer 2011: Government (Volume 14 n2) 6 ASPA Task Force on Civic Education in the 21st Century and Putnam, R.B. Bowling Alone, America's Declining Social Capital. Journal of Democracy. © 2014, National Research Center, Inc. these best practices should increase the likelihood of success. Particularly important are initial and periodic assessments of whether and how volunteers should be used. More intensive collaboration may involve using a "Train -the -Trainer" model whereby local government staff train residents to go out into the community and share information and skills with other residents. Resident behaviors are strongly correlated with sustainability, community safety and emergency preparedness, health and wellness, community inclusivity and more. Pro -social attitudes and behaviors can be significantly strengthened through community outreach, training and organizing The development of local non -government leadership also has been a strategy used in many community health initiatives. Identifying and promoting a local "champion" lends a strong hand in helping residents adopt behaviors to strengthen communities. Strategies for Successful Use of Volunteer Resources Conduct a periodic organizational assessment to determine whether and in what ways volunteers should be used and the organizational capacity for effective use of volunteers • Develop plans around the appropriate skills, expertise, uses and roles of volunteers • Identify effective recruiting strategies to attract capable people • Have policies and procedures for volunteers, including risk management procedures, rules and regulations, and expected time commitment • Screen and interview applicants for volunteer positions • Place volunteers where they will be most effective in terms of the organization's needs and the volunteer's skills and available time • Orient and train volunteers, not only on specific tasks, but on the organization's mission, vision and goals. • Provide meaningful volunteer jobs and roles in the organization • Have a designated manager to supervise volunteers • Empower volunteers by encouraging them to take initiative and ask questions • Periodically assess volunteer performance and staff support for volunteers • Track volunteer hours • Regularly show appreciation and recognition of volunteers Page 11