Reimagining Public Education and Outreach in a COVID-19 World

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, brought the world as we know it to a screeching halt. Fulton County, as did most governmental agencies across the United States, struggled with balancing the need to provide critical public services while protecting the health and welfare of both the workers and the communities served. Fulton County Public Works’ Education and Outreach Team, which supports the programs initiatives and regulatory compliance of the Department by promoting, engaging and facilitating water and environmental education for its students, residents, visitors and businesses, was faced with the reality that COVID-19 had profoundly changed the way public participation and public engagement happens. How do you successfully make the switch from in-person outreach and engagement to a socially-distanced platform? Four elements were key: strategic communications; choosing the right tools for the right audiences; strengthening partnerships and keeping the public engaged in a new environment. By identifying web-based, video conferencing platforms and utilizing social media, the Team developed a comprehensive outreach program spanning all 15 cities within the County and reaching residents in and across all demographics.