Broward County conducts public education and outreach activities throughout the year to ensure residents are aware of programs and services that can enhance their quality of life.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes travel to Broward County locally, nationally and globally as a premier leisure, convention and business destination for the continual economic benefit of our community.

Broward's 311 Call Center is a convenient single point of contact for information and assistance with County programs and services. A team of multi-lingual call takers answers upwards of 350,000 calls each year.  390,500 calls were answered in FY 2018. To connect with your County, call 311 or 954-831-4000. Or, call toll-free at 888-311-BRWD. During emergencies, the Call Center is a 24/7 hotline. It also takes calls and provides assistance with those experiencing homelessness. The Homeless Helpline number 954-563-HELP, 954-563-4357. In 2018, the Call Center launched a Customer Relationship Management system to enhance residents' customer service experience.

The Broward County Academy is a 10-week program where in 2018, South Florida college students who reside in Broward County learned how County government works and how they can become involved. The Academy is in its 7th year and has more than 200 graduates. Some are among the more than 700 residents who serve on advisory boards and committees that provide community input to the County Commission. To apply for the Academy, visit Broward.org/Academy. Broward Academy VII specifically targeted college students, an initiative led by Mayor Beam Furr to help address the lack of student knowledge today regarding civics. The curriculum was specifically designed with teaching methods and technology best suited for a millennial audience. The next public Academy will be in Fall of 2020. To learn more about serving on a County Board or Committee, visit Broward.org/Intergovernmental.

Broward County has an active presence on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn, in addition to using news releases to inform the media and residents about accomplishments, services, and events. Broward.org is a one-stop shop where residents, business owners and visitors can find information on County agencies and the services they offer. A perfect example of public education is the Broward.org/hurricane website where there is a plethora of information about what to do before, during and after a storm. The Office of Public Communications also completed a renovation and modernization project at the Emergency Operations Center in Plantation.  Updated technology and new press and news conference rooms will help keep the public informed about any County emergencies.

Also in FY2018, a long-term conversion of the Broward.org website and its agency subsites added flexibility for the user, a more mobile friendly presentation, and a more modern look and feel.

A variety of newsletters are also used to keep people informed. To subscribe to these newsletters visit our Stay Connected! Page, where you can select your areas of interest.