How Delta County Reaches More Residents
See how Delta County effectively connects with residents.
Check out how Delta County has gone about reaching more residents in their community.
The problem
Delta County, Colorado includes several communities spread across a large rural area, and residents do not all get their information from the same place or in their preferred language. "Posting something on our website or social media doesn't necessarily mean the people who need it will see it," said Lindsay Mitchell, the county's Public Information Officer. The county needed a way to bring useful information directly to residents, through the communication method each resident uses.
Mitchell has her own definition of community centered. "For me, community centered means helping people find services, understand changes, participate in public meetings and learn about opportunities in their community," she said. "That might be a road closure, a volunteer cleanup, a public-health resource or a community event. The focus is on information people can use in their everyday lives."
"Our goal is to reach beyond the people who already follow County government closely," Mitchell said.
What changed
Delta County chose to start sending county updates through the ReachWell platform. "The combination of resident app, email and text messaging, along with translation and a simple signup process, fit what we were trying to accomplish," Mitchell said. "We really like that residents can download the app without providing their name or personal information and still receive both emergency information and general updates from across County departments."
Mitchell's office also now coordinates routine county messaging with each department, including the Clerk and Recorder's Office, the health department, human services, and Emergency Management. "Departments provide the details, and we work together to make sure each message explains what residents need to know, who it affects and whether they need to take action," Mitchell said.
The results
One example is the Adobe Badlands Clean Up Volunteer Day. Getting the word out and rallying volunteers had always been difficult. This year Mitchell sent residents multiple translated messages through ReachWell leading up to the cleanup, and Delta County had its best attendance of any year and collected the largest volume of trash it has ever picked up at the event. "While several factors contribute to turnout," she said, "being able to put reminders directly in front of residents helped us build awareness and encourage participation."
More residents keep signing up. App subscriptions are up 64 percent, and text subscriptions have more than tripled.
Now she hears in person about the messages her community is receiving. "When I'm out in our towns, community members tell me they're enjoying updates they normally wouldn't have seen."
Key takeaways
Help residents sign up in person. "Get out in the community and help people sign up," Mitchell said. She designed and printed a large cardstock brochure with step-by-step signup instructions and a QR code. "I attend a lot of community events, and having something people can hold, follow and take home gives me a practical way to walk them through the process."
Make it fun. Residents who sign up at an event get a ticket for a T-shirt drawing. "It gives us an opportunity to start a conversation, explain what they can receive and help them get connected right there."
Invite community partners. Mitchell meets regularly with other organizations across the county and encourages them to join the ReachWell platform, where residents already receive county updates. "The more useful resources residents can find through ReachWell, the more reasons they have to sign up and keep using it," she said.
"My advice is to pair useful messages with personal outreach," Mitchell said. "Make signup easy, show people how the information can help them and invite community partners to be part of it."
