1. Linking Communication Protocols
SPDG National Meeting 2016
Anna Harms & Julie Morrison
October 12th, 2016

2. Contact Anna Harms Julie Morrison
Michigan SPDG, Internal Evaluator
Julie Morrison
Ohio and Michigan SPDG, External Evaluator
Materials developed by MIBLSI (special thanks to Assistant Director, Kimberly St. Martin)

3. What is a Communication Plan and Why Do We Need It?

4. Communication Plan
Formal process or system for gathering and disseminating important information specific to a common focus that has been mutually agreed upon by all groups / teams who will be impacted by its use

5. Applications Within the SPDG, internally
Between the SPDG staff and local partners (schools, districts, ISDs)
Between the SPDG staff and other agencies
Within districts
Between schools, districts, ISDs

6. District Capacity Assessment (DCA)
Item 10. District Implementation Team uses a communication plan
Read the item scoring guide
Highlight or underline the criteria your district has met
What score would you give your organization?

7. Components of a Communication Plan

8. Groups / Teams
There are several considerations for including groups / teams or staff to the communication plan.

9. Forming Groups / Teams: Consideration #1
Team’s / group’s overlap in the components of an integrated behavior and reading MTSS model

10. Forming Groups / Teams: Consideration #2
Leadership groups / teams that have the ability to remove barriers impeding people’s use
of the MTSS components
(e.g., central office, administrative team)

11. Forming Groups / Teams: Consideration #3
People in critical roles who will be in a supporting role for MTSS components

12. Forming Groups / Teams: Consideration #4
Other groups / teams that can influence professional development, curriculum and assessment decisions since the MTSS work touches on curriculum, instruction, intervention and assessment.

13. Communication Designees
Consider the following:
The information that needs to be gathered “from” and disseminated “to” might suggest one DIT member over others; especially if there are follow-up questions that would require deeper knowledge about the information
Easy access to the team or members of the team
Ability to follow through with communication shortly following team meetings (1-2 days)

14. Timelines and Format Considerations
General rule of thumb:
3-5 business days for responding to challenges;
20 business days for addressing challenges (e.g., either eliminating the challenge or starting to address the challenge with other groups / teams, or entities)
Format
Gathering information: , face-to-face, phone call
Responding to challenges:

15. Benefits of a Communication Survey
Regular opportunity to assess the effectiveness of communication
Refinements are done based on data
Conveys the message that communication is important
Reduces comments about poor communication since the survey data and transparency about refinements based on data are provided on a regular basis