Improving Public Participation in Solving Environmental Health Problems.* When environmental health professionals try to involve "the public" in environmental problem solving problem solving Process involved in finding a solution to a problem. Many animals routinely solve problems of locomotion, food finding, and shelter through trial and error. , they often are guided by hunches about how to do so. Research provides better guidance, however. * There are two keys to successfully involving stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. in problem solving: getting the right participation and getting the participation right. * "Getting the right participation" involves broadening the concept of "stakeholder stakeholder n. a person having in his/her possession (holding) money or property in which he/she has no interest, right or title, awaiting the outcome of a dispute between two or more claimants to the money or property. " beyond the usual meaning of interest groups. - Stakeholders can be people from diverse geographic areas, various ethnic groups, and organizations such as local governments and businesses. - The Noah's Ark Noah’s Ark preserves Noah’s family and animals from flood. [O.T.: Genesis 6:7–9] See : Refuge approach to diversity, however,--including representatives of each interest group without sufficient regard to achieving a balance that weights those most affected--may perpetuate existing inequities. - One way to overcome this limitation is to use community reconnaissance to understand social structure, leadership, and other aspects of a geographic area. - Thus, dealing with the complex issues of representation may, under some circumstances, require research, just as other aspects of environmental management do. * "Getting the participation right" involves a number of tasks: - The goals of participation must be defined. (Some empirical research Noun 1. empirical research - an empirical search for knowledge inquiry, research, enquiry - a search for knowledge; "their pottery deserves more research than it has received" suggests that lack of clarity about goals for participation may result in a failure to meet expectations. Goals may include both process and outcome goals.) - Participatory forms must be selected. (The effectiveness of any form is, however, contingent on Adj. 1. contingent on - determined by conditions or circumstances that follow; "arms sales contingent on the approval of congress" contingent upon, dependant on, dependant upon, dependent on, dependent upon, depending on, contingent an agency's intentions. When the goal is merely to gain support or to mollify mol·li·fy tr.v. mol·li·fied, mol·li·fy·ing, mol·li·fies 1. To calm in temper or feeling; soothe. See Synonyms at pacify. 2. To lessen in intensity; temper. 3. critics, participatory forms are less likely to be successful.) - The participation must be timed effectively (Public participation is often more successful when it occurs early in the decision-making process.) - Organizational issues must be addressed (e.g., funding, staffing, and communication within the agency). * Monitoring of the process also is important. As with science, improvement may depend on experimentation and adjustment. |
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