White House Soliciting Input on Public Participation Best Practices

Last week, the White House announced that they are actively seeking input from citizens to help identify best practices for public participation in government and suggest metrics that will allow agencies to assess progress toward the goal of becoming more participatory. The solicitation for input is directly related to the U.S. Open Government National Action Plan which was announced earlier this Fall as a government-wide effort to reform and modernize records management policies and practices.      
As the White House nears the implementation phase of the National Action Plan, they need your assistance.  Specifically, they are looking for input and recommendations on how to improve and help facilitate public participation in government, such as:

• What should be the minimum standard of good participation?

• What are the most effective forms of technology and web tools to encourage public participation, engage with the private sector/non-profit and academic communities, and provide the public with greater and more meaningful opportunities to influence agencies’ plans?
   
• What are some examples of success stories involving strong public participation, as well as less-than-successful efforts, and what lessons can be drawn from them?

The deadline to participate, and provide your input is January 3, 2011, which is not too far off. So we encourage our readers to send their thoughts to opengov@ostp.gov or use the web form, before the holiday break.  

Check out some specific areas of input they would like to address in regards to best practices and metrics for public participation, and learn more about this initiative >>