Public health professionals are increasingly required to engage in complex, and often contentious, conversations—particularly around vaccines and other high-profile health issues. While access to accurate information is essential, research consistently shows that data alone is insufficient to influence decision-making or build trust. There is a clear need for skill development in communication strategies that are grounded in evidence, responsive to community concerns, and adaptable across diverse audiences.
This skill-building session is designed to address that gap by equipping participants with practical tools to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including community members, healthcare providers, and policymakers. The session will focus on key content areas including audience-centered messaging, strategies for addressing misinformation, and approaches for translating complex public health data into clear, actionable, and accessible messages. Particular attention will be given to how communication strategies can be adapted to reflect community values, lived experiences, and varying levels of trust in public health systems.
The session is grounded in best practices from public health communication, behavioral science, and motivational interviewing. It emphasizes the importance of trust-building, active listening, and framing messages in ways that resonate with different audiences. Participants will learn how to move beyond one-directional information sharing and instead engage in meaningful, two-way dialogue that supports informed decision-making and strengthens relationships between communities and public health systems.
This session directly supports skill development by focusing on real-world application. Rather than a lecture-based format, the session is designed to provide participants with opportunities to practice and refine communication strategies that can be immediately applied in their professional settings. The skills developed in this session are critical for public health professionals working in clinical, community, and policy environments, particularly as they navigate increasing misinformation and polarization.
This session aligns with the Public Health in the Rockies theme of Stronger Together by emphasizing collaboration, shared learning, and the importance of engaging across differences. By centering communication as a tool for building trust and advancing health equity, the session supports CPHA’s commitment to fostering a more equitable public health system. It recognizes that historical and structural inequities—including racism—shape how communities experience and respond to public health efforts, and it provides participants with strategies to communicate in ways that are inclusive, respectful, and responsive.
Ultimately, this session is relevant to a wide range of public health professionals seeking to strengthen their ability to communicate effectively, use data to support advocacy, and build more resilient, community-centered public health systems.
