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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
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Acronyms
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Appendix B. SAMPLE SMART GOALS (with PFAS-specific Example)

Communication Plan Step 2: Set Goals and Objectives

This section includes some examples of SMART goals, including PFAS-specific examples.

Example SMART Goals

Example: Communication of goals

Issue: The governor established an independent PFAS science advisory panel of national experts to provide guidance to the state on protectiveness of criteria and develop science-based recommendations that will guide the administration and legislature on the best regulatory policy moving forward.

Goal: The PFAS science advisory panel will complete a report within 6 months that will provide a general understanding of human health risks associated with PFAS in the environment. These science-based data will be used to develop a regulatory response that the administration and legislature will implement by X date.

Example: Assessing stakeholder concerns

Issue: Due to public health concerns, the state environmental agency will conduct a statewide study of PFAS levels in X public water supplies at X schools that operate their own wells by X date.  

Goal: By X date, the state environmental agency will develop an inventory and location map of sites where PFAS has been used or disposed; prioritize sites for further investigation based upon the potential to impact drinking water supplies (using information from state groundwater maps, site history, and site ownership); incorporate data into a GIS-based data management system; and develop and implement a plan to sample school private and or public water wells to assess potential impacts to drinking water supplies from prioritized sites.

For this example:

  • Specific: develop an inventory and location map
  • Measurable: testing water from wells
  • Attainable: implement a plan to sample private and public water supplies
  • Relevant: testing at prioritized sites will define impact
  • Timely: by July 1

Example: Short-term SMART goal (from the Little Hocking Water Association case study, PFAS Tech Reg Document, Section 15.4.1).

  • By (date), the community is informed via the municipal website, flyers, and canvassing that bottled water is available as an alternate water source and utilized by 85% of the population.
  • After (months), the extent of the impacted water supply is known via well testing and communicated to the community via a public meeting, municipal website, and newsletter

Example: SMART goal (from the Little Hocking Water Association case study)

  • By (date) or after (months), using a community-first strategy that includes the establishment of a community advisory committee, and uses multiple methods of communication – media, social media, internet ,and meetings – determine whether blood PFOA levels were elevated and provide actions that 12,000 residents can take to produce a measurable reduction of PFOA blood levels.
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