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Navigating this Website
About ITRC
1 Introduction
2 Risk Communication Fundamentals
2 Introduction
2.1 Stakeholder Engagement
2.2 How Communities See Risk
2.3 Earning Trust and Credibility
2.4 Considering When and How to Release Information
2.5 Interacting with Communities
2.6 Explaining Risk
2.7 Challenges to Risk Communication
2.8 Risk Perception Factors
3 Risk Communication Toolkit
3 Introduction
3.1 Caution Statement About Using the Toolkit
3.2 Risk Communication Toolkit Contents
4 Communication Plan Description
4 Introduction
4.1 Step 1: Identify the Issue/Concern
4.2 Step 2: Set Goals and Objectives
4.3 Step 3: Identify Communities & Constraints
4.4 Step 4: Assess Stakeholders/Communities
4.5 Step 5: Identify Messages
4.6 Step 6: Select Communication and Engagement Methods
4.7 Step 7: Implement Strategies
4.8 Step 8: Evaluate, Debrief, and Follow Up
4.9 Training for Practitioners
5 Case Studies
6 Additional Information
Appendix A. Risk Communication Plan Description and Template
Appendix B. SAMPLE SMART GOALS (with PFAS-specific Example)
Appendix C. Audience/Stakeholder Identification Guide (with PFAS-Specific Example)
Appendix D. Key Message Mapping Guide (with PFAS-Specific Example)
Appendix E. Guidance for Press Releases
Appendix F. Guidance for Writing Analytical Results Letters
Appendix G. Social Factors Vision Board (with PFAS-Specific Examples)
Appendix H. Communication Methods Summary Table
Appendix I. Analytical Data Package Public Information Fact Sheet (with PFAS-Specific Example)
Appendix J. Tracking Form for Media Correspondence
Appendix K. Team Contacts
Acronyms
Glossary
Acknowledgements
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Risk Communication Toolkit
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This Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) online document includes a brief overview of risk communication (Section 1), walks through the steps in developing a communication plan and stakeholder outreach activities (Section 4), presents an overview of risk communication concepts (Section 2), and applies these principles in case studies (Section 5) to facilitate risk communication plan development. Section 3.2 includes a summary of the tools included in the appendices (See Section 6 Additional Information) to facilitate risk communication plan development and stakeholder outreach activities. This toolkit is applicable to current, immediate, and emerging environmental issues and concerns. Examples of various tools, as presented in this toolkit, were developed by issue-specific ITRC teams; however, they are generally applicable to environmental issues and concerns. Additional examples will be developed by ITRC teams going forward and linked to the web document in the future. This toolkit will be updated with links to case studies published by future ITRC teams.

A short Risk Communication Toolkit fact sheet summarizing the information in this online document is available.

As part of the PFAS team training videos, a Risk Communication video has been developed. It is posted on ITRC’s YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqOaPip-z5g&feature=youtu.be

Document navigation is provided with the menu on the left, or above on a mobile device.

Published by the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, June 2020

Permission is granted to refer to or quote from this publication with the customary acknowledgment of the source. The suggested citation for this document is as follows:

ITRC (Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council). 2020. Risk Communication Toolkit RCT-1. Washington, D.C.: Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council. https://rct-1.itrcweb.org/

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