Participation that Counts
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Transcript of Participation that Counts
Participation that Counts
Patricia (Trish) Elliott | Presentation to Regina Board of Education March 25, 2014
Integrating community input into decision-making
Processes that fail
“It was a waste of time.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
“Nothing we said mattered.”
“Their minds were made up already.”
Quotes from Survey of Athabasca parents, RealRenewal 2011.
Processes that succeed
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Open informationMutually developed process
Inclusive decision-making
Use of community-generated data
Core Values for the Practice
of Public ParticipationInternational Association for Public Participation
Those affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process.
It includes the promise that the public’s contribution will influence the decision.
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Early success factor
Facilitation
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Neutral
Spada & Vreeland. Who Moderates the Moderators? Journal of Public Deliberation, Vol. 9, 2013.
Mutually accepted
“When moderators intervene in favor of one option, they can have a substantively and statistically significant impact on the preferences of participants.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Assess and disclose moderator’s stake in the outcome.
More than one moderator, with different views.
Random selection of moderator.
Mutual development of the agenda, the introductory information and the options.
“Where moderators have high stakes in the outcome…sterilizing the potential impact of moderators should take priority.”Spada & Vreeland. Who Moderates the Moderators? Journal of Public Deliberation, Vol. 9, 2013.
“…this process is simply to make the community think
they had a say....”
Gathering Community Input
“I hope the powers that be really listen to what people in the neighbourhood have
to say.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Quotes from Stage 1 Concept Plan, RBE, 2012.
Community Input is Data
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Community Input is Data
Core Principles
Accurate and complete record. Verifiable.
Scientific analysis.
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Applied to conclusions.
Applied to options.
Included as options
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
“…the community consultation process revealed a very strong desire to retain the existing Connaught School building…” State 1 Submission, RBE, 2012
Treated as data
Unverified counter-data.
“A lot of people say the school should close.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Data exclusion
That’s not an option.
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
We’ve made our decision.
Community issues aren’t our business.
Claims of higher legitimacy
“We were elected to make tough decisions.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
“We representthe whole city.”
Ad homonym responses.
(attack the messenger)
You’re not qualified.
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
You’re too negative.
You don’t represent anyone.
Paternalism
“We know what’s best for your children.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Administrators/trustees “care.”Parents/community “feel over-entitled.”
Acknowledgement without action
“We listened.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Including community
“Decisions should be made by community members.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
“…these meetings are a token effort…”
Quotes from Stage 1 Concept Plan, RBE, 2012.
Methods of Genuine InclusionCore Principle: Shared power
Citizen panels
Joint task forces
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
Advisory committees
Responding to community is win-win.
“We want your support for a joint RBE/Ministry/Community Task
Team to develop a mutually acceptable renewal plan.”
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making
“We need the existing building to stay open until June 2015 at minimum.”
Thank you
Participation That Counts | Integrating Community Input into Decision-making