The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Engagement Wayfinder is an orientation to public engagement.
Public engagement enables the government to incorporate public concerns, needs, and values into projects and decisions. It is sometimes used interchangeably with other terms like public participation, stakeholder engagement, and community engagement. Central to all of these terms is the idea that public involvement can produce better decisions with greater public support.
Engagement is an organized process. It is not a single event, but a series of activities and actions over the course of a decision process or project. It is intentional and involves seeking out public input and allowing it to have some level of influence over the decisions being made.
The Wayfinder is a starting point for effective engagement, but it can be complicated. There may be times when it would be best to engage a professional, such as a trained social scientist or third-party neutral facilitator. You can find a list of people and organizations who can help you design or facilitate engagement processes that are more likely to meet your intended goals on the “Find an Expert” page.
