A risk communications framework is essential because it provides clarity and structure in moments when uncertainty can easily lead to confusion or fear. Without a clear plan, responses can become reactive, inconsistent, or even unintentionally exclusionary, especially in diverse communities with varying needs and access to information. A framework ensures that messaging is timely, culturally responsive, and grounded in empathy, allowing organizations like RMC to communicate with purpose and build trust before, during, and after a crisis. It helps everyone; staff, volunteers, and community partners stay aligned, informed, and ready to act with care.
Risk communications plan
RMC’s Strategic Risk Communications Team is committed to managing the risk communications process by adapting the framework. The opportunity of the Rhema Multicultural Center Strategic Risk Communications Team is to ensure that newcomers are supported to take bold and atypical approaches to integration in their new environment so as to combat alienation, isolation, financial risks and other wellness issues common to newcomers.This helps them to appreciate the beauty in diversity, improve their chances of financial success, connect and awaken their sense of adventure.
Key Strategies
As a result of this risk communications strategy, newcomers to Canada should have a consciousness of the need to integrate wholly into their new society because it preserves their mental health and creates social benefits. Principles will be designed to keep stakeholders motivated enough to avoid imminent mental health hazards, yearn for endless possibilities and crave new experiences.
Evaluation using message frames.
| Message Criteria | Delivery method | Production feature |
| Personal Impact | Accessible information and sources (newsletters, fliers, pamphlets, targeted ads) | Clear and positive messages. |
| Tangible Evidence | Relatable stories, real-life experiences, and testimonials from volunteers and willing community members. | Appropriate images, appealing models,great facial features and colors. |
| Credible source | General research-proven information on the spread of mental wellness, examples of vulnerable populations and its effects on patients. Preferably from industry experts. | Simple facts, figures and numbers including reference year without all the technical jargon. Example of format: Did you know? “Not-so-fun”facts” |
| Appropriate Tone | Positive language, action words, adjectives that reflect optimism. | Images that portray the central ideas being promoted in messaging. |
| Personal Impact | Relates to:Shared experiencesInformation that validates current situations and stakeholder’s viewpoints | Sample language Every year, Canada welcomes thousands of immigrants into the society. However, the road to settlement and integration for many immigrants is understandably rough. From the change in climate to the overwhelming difference in cultural sensitivities, it is easy to feel lost. Do you know that Canada is called the land of immigrants because of its multicultural nature? As a culturally convivial country, they cannot wait to experience your culture. Its charm is in the difference and its diversity.Social alienation is arguably the hardest part of migration. Beat it and create new experiences. Get curious about your new home and explore. Society is better when we are healthier! |
| Tangible Evidence | Products, effects or results that represent clear improvements in my circumstances. For example: Interesting and inspiring integration activitiesSource actions that have improved the situation. For example, success stories and testimonials from stakeholders who tried this approach. | It is easy for newcomers to feel encumbered when they are unsure of how to start their life in a new location. One way to start creating memories, building new experiences and social capital is volunteering in any sphere that interests you. Another way to be intentional about beating social inertia is to join clubs where your interest is shared. For example, Meet-Up has platforms for people from diverse cultures who share the same interests (book lovers, cat moms, religious people, crafts people and much more). There are many sports clubs (soccer, hockey etc.) where people play friendly tournaments. Current Minister of Justice, Kelechi Madu, a Canadian of Nigerian descent shares a story on how he was inspired to participate in politics by the friends he made while volunteering in his local community league. (made up story) |
| Appropriate Tone | Acknowledgement of general concerns empathy.Positivity and optimismSensitivity to circumstances and issues. | Is every attempt to integrate into society going to be a pleasant experience? Most unlikely. Conflict is inevitable in every social circle, including the ones you are familiar with. A bad experience is still an experience so it should not be a detterent. It is helpful to consider other factors outside color when altercations occur. Sometimes, it could be a human thing and not a color thing. It is important to go out and make connections, relish good experiences, anticipate better ones, embrace curiosity and develop a sense of adventure. You are doing it for yourself. |
| Credible sources | Transparent messages about research findingsQuotes from submissions of experts Call for moral action on benefits of social integration for the society. | RMC is vested in the wellbeing of all immigrants. We always liaise and partner with experts to understand the challenges immigrants face and create effective solutions. The World Mental Wellness society says 65 percent of immigrants are likely to express depression and social alienation within the first two years of relocation. (made-up)According to the government, one of the ways to give back to the society, make friends and build wealth is volunteering and this emphasizes the benefits of volunteering. (Sample messages summarized due to word limit) |
Message pretesting
The strategies that we will use to pretest messages for this risk communications framework include location intercept interview and website performances.
Location intercept interviews: This method is a great fit for Rhema Multicultural Center because its location is a great traffic spot. When community members visit the center to participate in programs or ask for support, advisors can easily conduct a brief interview with them (with their consent). This method has great potential to provide varied yet insightful opinions and it will be a cost-effective approach since it aligns with the center operations. For us at RMC, this method also saves our time as the center has a ready population sample that fits in the stakeholder profile. It could be a disadvantage as community members may believe we offer our services in exchange for data.
Website Performances: The risk communications strategy includes an active communications campaign on the center website. Strategic points on the website landing page will have attractive captions inviting visitors to learn more about the risk opportunity. Visitors will have access to important information through the use of catchy yet accessible language. The team will pretest for visibility, ease of navigation and impact through real-time analysis using metrics like number of visits, clicks and average time spent reading through the information page. The team will make adjustments and modifications on messaging based on feedback from web analytics.
Conclusion
Rhema Multicultural Centre’s Strategic Risk Communications Team is focused on helping newcomers to Canada integrate successfully and combat mental wellness challenges such as alienation and depression Through its pretesting methods, strategic message design, the center is positive about successful outcomes in its goal to foster integration, diversity appreciation, and overall well-being among newcomers.
