Community Engagement Toolkit

The Community Engagement Toolkit is an essential resource for Washington state agency staff who want to create meaningful, inclusive, and equitable partnerships with community members, particularly those from underrepresented populations. Developed by the Office of Equity, this comprehensive guide provides practical tools, templates, and best practices for establishing workgroups that center the voices of people with direct lived experience. 

The toolkit walks users through every step of the engagement process, from initial planning and recruitment to compensation and measuring impact, with a strong focus on accessibility, universal design, and relational partnership. It emphasizes moving beyond traditional, transactional approaches to create a more responsive and inclusive government that works with communities rather than simply for them. Whether you're managing a statutory workgroup or seeking to improve your agency's community engagement practices, this toolkit offers invaluable guidance for building trust, ensuring accessibility, and fostering genuine collaboration with the communities most impacted by government decisions.

Tool Links

• Tool 1 - Sponsors & Advocates Meeting Guide.pdf
• Tool 2 - Landscape Analysis Guide.pdf
• Tool 3 - Understanding Disability.pdf
• Tool 4 - Principles of Universal Design.pdf
• Tool 5 - Planning Inclusive Meetings.pdf
• Tool 6 - Creating Accessible Documents.pdf
• Tool 7 - How to Provide Cart and ASL.pdf
• Tool 8 - Language Access & Plain Talk.pdf
• Tool 9 – Recruitment and Appointment Checklist.pdf
• Tool 10 – Application Form Template.pdf
• Tool 11 - Onboarding Guide.pdf
• Tool 12 - PRA Training for Workgroup Members.pdf
• Tool 13 - The Five Superpowers of Co-Creation.pdf
• Tool 14 - Facilitating Inclusive Meetings.pdf