After Your Engagements
Public engagement is a continuous process that requires follow-up action. After holding an engagement event with community members or stakeholders, courts should continue the momentum.
It is important to consider strategies early in your planning process for how your court will sustain its efforts over time. Community engagement means developing a relationship based on trust. A “one and done” approach to community engagement will result in limited value and may reduce trust among members of the public you engaged. On the other hand, a well-thought-out strategy for follow-up action and sustainability can strengthen trust and create other benefits for courts and communities alike.
Three strategies courts can use to promote sustainability include: 1) Dissemination, 2) Action, and 3) Institutionalization.
