October Release Notes Version 1.010

Formatted Messaging, Tap to add calendar events, Set Notification Preferences, and More!

We’re excited about the latest updates, and we think you will be too (especially because we got a lot of these ideas from you!). Here are some of the changes that will make your life easier:

What’s New on the App

Tap to Add Calendar Events: When families open a calendar event, they can tap the top right icon to add it onto to their personal calendars.
Set Notification Preferences: Verified families now can set their notification preferences by opting out of calls, texts, push notifications, or emails. Just tap on the "Profile" icon in the top right corner and tap "Settings.”

What’s New on the Web Dashboard

Formatted Messaging: Our messaging tool now retains all message formats while being passed through translation via app notification and email. This is unique to Flyer Connect! This includes URL Hyperlinks and even Bold, Underline, Italics, Justification, Headers, etc.
Contact Notification Preferences: School Admins can now set notification preferences for their contacts to disable call / text / emailing.
Draft Button: When sending messages, we’ve made it clearer that you are making a draft, rather than sending out a message. When you click “Draft” it will save the message in your “All Messages” screen. If the message was previously published, hitting “Draft” will remove the message from the newsfeed.
Admin List Export: See a full list of your school and group admins by clicking the “Export” button.
Contact Sort by Status: We’ve made it easier to group which contacts have verified, and which are unverified. Click the Status column, and it will order families by status.
“No Group” Filter: It’s now easier to know which students or contacts are not assigned to their private groups. On the Contacts and Students pages, select “No Group” on the groups selection screen to filter your view for those who need a group assignment. This will make it easier to associate new students to their groups!

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Mail

When Residents Don’t Trust You: How to Still Keep Them Safe and Informed

By Zuben Bastani • June 17, 2025

Government distrust is at an all-time high. Many residents are wary of sharing their personal information with public agencies, often due to fears of surveillance, spam, or data misuse. This hesitation is especially acute among low-income and unhoused individuals who frequently change phone numbers due to service lapses, making traditional outreach efforts ineffective. Most public communication systems fall short. They rely on platforms like Mailchimp or Constant Contact, which get lost in crowded inboxes. Social media, while pervasive, is designed to harvest data and push ads—not to protect user privacy. Even emergency alert systems often require residents to sign up and share their location, further eroding trust. Text messaging, often called the holy grail of communication, is no longer a guaranteed solution. People guard their phone numbers carefully, especially when interacting with the government. They fear being spammed or having their data sold. So how can agencies inform and protect the public without breaching their trust? A New Approach to Community Communication Using ReachWell's extensive experience and broad customer base, here are some recommendations to consider when engaging your community in a less intrusive yet more effective manner: Offer Communication Choices : Let residents decide how they want to receive information—whether it's through text, email, voice calls, app notifications, or a combination. This respects personal preferences and helps reduce message fatigue. Respect Anonymity : Not everyone wants to share personal contact details. Provide anonymous access to messages via public channels or apps that don’t require identifying information. Support Multilingual Access : Language should never be a barrier to safety or services. Translate messages into the primary languages spoken in your community, and consider text-to-speech options for low-literacy audiences. Allow Topic Subscription : Let people select specific topics or groups they care about. Targeted messages reduce noise and increase engagement. Minimize Data Collection : Collect only the data you truly need. Avoid tracking location or behavior unless absolutely necessary—and be transparent about what is collected and why. Ensure Accessibility : Meet or exceed accessibility standards (such as WCAG 2.2 AA compliance) so all residents, including those with disabilities, can access and understand public messages. These practices foster trust, improve message delivery, and help ensure no one is left out of important conversations—especially in moments of crisis or community need. Expanded Real-World Examples: Trusted by Diverse Communities El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs area) uses ReachWell to distribute emergency alerts—including shelter-in-place orders and missing persons reports—in over 130 languages. Residents can receive alerts even without providing contact information. The Town of Carbondale, CO keeps its multilingual and low-literate residents informed of community events, social services, and public works projects using WCAG 2.2 AA-compliant messaging and text-to-speech capabilities—ensuring no one is left behind. Tucson, AZ : Child-Parent Centers, a Head Start provider, uses ReachWell to keep 500+ staff updated on safety alerts, training sessions, and HR notices across 130 languages—building internal trust through inclusive communication. Boulder County Housing Authority ensures ongoing connection with residents—even after their contact information changes—by sending updates about emergencies, upcoming maintenance, and resident services using ReachWell’s multilingual and anonymous outreach tools. Conclusion Building trust with residents starts with giving them control. When governments let people choose how they connect, what they receive, and in what language—trust grows. ReachWell is proving that communities can be kept safe and informed without sacrificing privacy or accessibility. When people don’t trust the system, it’s time to change the system. ReachWell is doing just that. BOOK A DEMO TODAY