Outreach Strategies to Engage Potential Participants and Employers

This practice brief explores how Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrate Employment (SWTCIE) staff promote their projects to potential participants and employers. It summarizes interviews with four SWTCIE projects and shares promising practices including (1) meeting people where they are and proactively addressing their concerns, (2) engaging a wide network in their communities, (3) consulting external resources such as communications firms to shape their branding, and (4) promoting success stories and using family and peer mentors. The lessons learned could help vocational rehabilitation agencies and other organizations interested in implementing aspects of their programs.