Phase 5

Through focus groups, a state can get the “right” people involved. This will include a diverse representation of practitioners from the major public safety disciplines of Fire, Law, and EMS. The focus groups also support the actualization of a practitioner-driven philosophy, which is the core of SCIP Methodology.

Timeline
2 to 6 weeks (pending availability of the identified participants)

Outputs

• Focus Group Invitation
• Letter of Confirmation
• Participant Database
• Press release

Key Considerations

• Use the focus groups as an opportunity to determine how to standardize communication and market this statewide planning process,
• Inform participants about past statewide communications interoperability planning, as those efforts may not have included the local practitioners and may have failed, and
• Leverage the networking developed in this phase to send a consistent message about the value placed on local involvement in and leadership of this statewide process.

Tasks

• Define a Criteria for Focus Group Interviewee
• Leverage State and National Public Safety Associations to Identify Possible Focus Group Participants
• Communicate about Focus Group Interviews: Invite and Confirm Attendance
• Enlist State Leadership To Invite Local Practitioners And Leaders Into The Strategic Planning Process
• Distribute Press Releases To Area Newspapers And Trade Publications
• Confirm Attendance and Determine the Need for Last Minute Recruiting
• Confirm Meeting Facility Logistics

Resources
The fifth phase of the methodology discusses the tasks that will help you to be successful in recruiting focus group interview participants and executing the meeting preparations. The following samples and templates are consolidated here as useful references that will help you accomplish the desired outcomes of Phase 5:

• Appendix K: Process Document for Identifying Participants – This document guides you through the process of identifying practitioner participants. This includes the desired characteristics and leadership qualities that focus group interview participants should possess.
• Appendix L: Sample Phone Script – Useful phone script for contacting local agencies.
• Appendix M: Sample Letter of Invitation – Provides a sample format and useful language for inviting participants to the focus group interviews.
• Appendix N: Sample Letter of Confirmation – Provides a sample format and useful language for confirming invitees’ presence in the focus group interviews.
• Appendix O: Participant Database Template – Provides a sample format in a useful tool for tracking participant contact information.
• Appendix P: Sample Letter of Endorsement – Provides a sample format and useful language for an executive sponsor to endorse your state’s interoperability project.
• Appendix Q: Sample Press Release – Provides an example for communicating and marketing the project’s efforts around the state through the press.
• Appendix R: SAFECOM Executive Committee Information Sheet – Provides information on the governing body that provided additional focus group interview contacts when participation was scarce.