Municipalities promote good relations – a tool for municipal efforts on good relations

The data collection involves discussion sessions in which residents from different population groups share their experiences, observations and views about local relations. These discussions are guided by questions based on the key aspects of good relations (link to the above graph: attitudes, interaction etc.). For language minorities, it is important to offer the opportunity to discuss in their own language. 

The work to promote good relations should be done in close cooperation with regional organisations, and the initiative to consult a particular resident group may originally come from an organisation. Organisations provide valuable insight into the situation of different population groups and act as a link to these groups, enhancing residents’ trust and encouraging them to share their views.

The municipality outsources the data collection to local or nearby organisations. 
The organisations manage the data collection as a contracted service, find and train facilitators and clerks for the data collection sessions, organise the sessions and deliver reports to the municipalities. 

The facilitators and clerks conduct and document the discussions (in the participants’ own language).  After the sessions, the clerks deliver anonymised notes in Finnish/Swedish to the municipality.  The notes are compiled into a presentation for the decision-maker session. Key findings are summarised in so-called experience cards.

More information available at the project website (in Finnish)

After the data collection, the municipality collaborates with the organisations to hold a session for decision-makers. The target audience for the decision-maker session includes:

• Key decision-makers in the municipality (elected officials, division directors, those responsible for planning and development, etc.)
• The results of the data collection may also be relevant to the wellbeing services county and the police. Decision-makers from these bodies should therefore also be invited to the session.
• The organisations involved in the data collection (1 to 3 representatives)
• The facilitators and clerks
• Residents who participated in the data collection sessions (3 to 6 residents per session) 
• Facilitator(s) for the decision-maker session (e.g. an organisation representative or a discussion session facilitator)

In the session, data collection session facilitators present summaries of the results of these discussions, followed by a facilitated discussion using a ”More of this, less of that” method. 

In small groups, participants read aloud the results from the narrative-style experience cards and reflect on whether they want to see more or less of similar resident experiences. The groups then work to identify ways to increase positive experiences and reduce negative ones.

The goal is for decision-makers to develop an action plan to promote good relations based on the collected data. The plan should include one to four measures that the stakeholders present at the session will implement.  

More information available at the project website (in Finnish)

At the end of the decision-maker session, participants complete a survey to assess how the data collection and session have affected their thinking, and what measures they intend to take. The results of the feedback survey help select the measures and monitor their impact. Decision-makers develop their ideas for measures and agree on how to move them forward at the decision-maker sessions.

By assessing the chosen measures and their impact, municipalities can develop better methods for promoting good relations. They should establish a schedule and a clear division of labour for the assessment process. 

By repeating the data collection sessions, municipalities can monitor the state of local relations and the impact of the measures developed based on the results. Municipalities can also conduct supplementary resident surveys and dialogues to gain further insights into which population groups should be consulted next. 

More information available at the project website (in Finnish)