Recruiting and Retaining:

The 12 Sectors of the Community

WheelErica Manahan

&Amber Allen

Why Recruit and Retain?• Members/Stakeholders are

important:– They share information and

resources– They ensure that multiple

populations with multiple strategies are reached

– They provide more opportunities to achieve and claim success with the positive outcomes

• You never know who your champion may be

What Does Membership Look Like?

• Core planning team

• Active coalition member

• Project focused members

12 Sectors of the Community Wheel• Youth

• Parents

• Business Community

• Media

12 Sectors of the Community Wheel• Schools

• Youth-Serving Organizations

• Law Enforcement Agencies

• Religious or Fraternal Organizations

12 Sectors of the Community Wheel• Civic and Volunteer Groups

• Healthcare Professionals

• State, Local or Tribal Governmental Agencies with Expertise in the Substance Abuse Field

• Other Organizations Involved in Substance Abuse Reduction

Recruiting

What is Recruiting?

The action of seeking to increase

membership by seeking new

members to a coalition

• 12 community sectors • More hands can cover

more ground• New ideas/perspectives • Decrease burn out• More support

Why do you need to Recruit?

Have a Recruiting Plan

When should you start recruiting?

• As soon as the coalition starts forming

• Recruiting is a constant • Incorporate

recruitment/engagement in all efforts.

Recruiting• Start with people you

know

• Sharing your coalition’s messages on a regular basis

• Talk to Stakeholders

• Emerging Leaders

Hardest Sectors to Recruit

• Youth • Media • Schools • Law Enforcement • Religious

Organizations • Civic & Volunteer

Groups

How to Recruit• Personal contacts (Primary Way)• Set up booths at local fairs,

carnivals & festivals • Newspaper • Sphere of Influence campaign • PSA on local radio or TV station • Ask current members to give

presentations to another group they’re involved in

• Social media

Recruiting-Membership Card

Recruiting-Postcards

Recruiting-Rack Card

Recruiting-Business Card

Recruiting-Newspaper

Recruiting-Mailer

Recruiting-Sphere of Influence

“Prescription drug overdose deaths are now leading cause of accidental deaths, overtaking auto accidents

for the first time and exceeding the number of cocaine, heroin, and meth deaths combined. Protect

your loved ones by talking to your family and friends about the

dangers of medication abuse.” >>>Make your voice heard and

join the Lawrence County Prevention Team to make a

difference.

Recruiting-Flyer

• Facebook: ADAPT

• Twitter: Jefferson City CDFY

• Twitter: Northland Coalition

• LinkedIn: Dover Coalition for Youth

• Circle of San Antonio

Social Media Recruiting

Places to Recruit

• Grocery stores• High schools/universities• Churches • Recreation centers/community

centers • Performing art centers • Libraries • Drug stores• Doctors’

offices/hospitals/health clinics

Things to Consider when Recruiting • Awareness of the issue

• What size of area does your coalition cover urban vs. rural

• Check who you need in the community wheel

• What is the best type of recruitment material to reach who are looking for

• Cultural competency

Recruiting Research

Members were more likely to have attended a greater percentage of coalition

meetings in the past year, and more likely to have spent

higher number of hours doing coalition work outside of

scheduled meetings when they perceived the coalition board to

be more inclusive to it members.

Retaining

Retaining Strategies• Have coalition structure

– Vision and mission statements, goals, strategic action plans, roles and expectations for members

– Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer with regular change over

• Conduct regular member orientations to the coalition, its function and its activities

• Offer member job descriptions

Sample Job Descriptions

Sample Job Descriptions

Sample Job Descriptions

Sample Job Descriptions

Retaining Strategies

• Hold effective meetings– Offer an agenda and minutes– Guide discussion and stay on

task• Send email updates if unable

to attend• Ensure the meeting time is

beneficial for the majority• Seek feedback from members

on meeting and action plans

Retaining Strategies• Identify personal and agency

needs and attempt to accommodate them when able

• Designate a need and place for each individual/agency

• Create a commitment letter/MOU

Retaining Strategies• Provide meaningful tasks

suited to individual interests and abilities

• Balance being useful but not overworked

• Distribute the workload– Keep activities fresh and

relevant– Many hands make light work!

Retaining Strategies• Offer formal and informal

trainings for members to become better educated and more connected with the problem

• Recognize coalition members for their involvement and dedication– Tangible rewards like drawings– Personal thank you letters– Newspaper/social media shout

out

Levels of Involvement

No Involvement

Coordination

Collaboration

Cooperation

Networking

“You do your thing; we’ll do ours.”

“Let’s talk and share information.”

“I’ll support your program and you’ll support me, or we can co-sponsor one.”

“Let’s partner on an event.”

“Let’s work together on a comprehensive plan to address the issue; our missions overlap.”

Hardest Sectors to RetainYouth

• Issues– Turnover – Keeping their interest

• Solutions– Treat them as equal

partners/members– Value their input and make

them a part of ALL stages of prevention

– Schedule meetings when youth can attend

Hardest Sectors to RetainMedia

• Issues– Lack of interest – Being too busy

• Solutions– Find an individual that is a

stakeholder or is affected by the issue

– List them as a sponsor frequently

– Utilize their media source when able

Hardest Sectors to RetainSchools

• Issues– Pulled in many directions– Health/substance abuse isn’t

the main focus• Solutions

– Focus on educational impact– Provide research-based best

practices– Make communication succinct

and address the educational mission

Hardest Sectors to RetainLaw enforcement

• Issues– Difficult schedules– Lack of interest

• Solutions– Focus on enforcement issues,

including decreasing crime and improving safety

– Increase positive community image

Hardest Sectors to RetainReligious Organizations

• Issues– WIIFM?– Already over-involved

• Solutions– Maintain a connection to faith

initiatives– Show the problems firsthand

with tangible solutions– Value their time and desire for

involvement

Hardest Sectors to Retain

Civic and volunteer groups• Issues

– Often approached for involvement in groups

• Solutions– Partnership expands quality and

quantity of volunteer community

– Collaborate with their projects as well

In closing…

Your coalition members are the lifeblood of your prevention work and of the change that

can happen in your community!

You need them for their voice and abilities.

They need you for your prevention knowledge and

guidance.

• Coalitions Work– http://coalitionswork.com/

• CADCA– www.cadca.org – www.cadca.org/resources/detail/

strengthening-partnerships-toolkit• Community Toolbox

– http://ctb.ku.edu/

Resources