Recruitment for the Operating Affiliate

Agenda: Introduction of panelists Overview about host congregations Assessment of recruiting needs and components Core principles for Recruiting Best practices Special concerns: Renewing former hosts; Second rotations; Increasing diversity Review of resources available

PANELISTS Tom Cioffi – National Associate and Board President, Family Promise of Gwinnett County, GA Pat Bradbury – National Associate and former Board Member and former Coordinator, Family Promise of Moore County, NC

More than 5,000 congregations involved nationwide HOST CONGREGATIONS: Non-congregational host Involve virtually every denomination

Yearly review of hosting with leadership KEY POINTS ABOUT HOSTS: Ideal # of hosts: Coordinator teams Signed covenant

Not enough hosts Congregations are starting to burn out Congregations host only a few times a year Want to broaden our hosts: geography or diversity Start a second rotation WHICH OF THESE CHALLENGES DOES YOUR AFFILIATE FACE?

A comprehensive list of area congregations including clergy name Identified leads into area congregations Information on past host congregations List of all support congregations WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED WITH RECRUITING?

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCES? Support congregations that can be assigned to new congregations Coordinators that can serve as mentors Recruiters with the ability to visit congregations during day and evening hours – Volunteers from diverse congregations to speak about the program – Former guests who can share their stories A recruitment committee – A project manager for recruitment Materials to support recruitment, including visuals Timelines, action steps and assignments People to do input, phone calls for research and other similar tasks Congregations that would be willing to be showcases during their host week

GETTING STARTED. Plan People Present Persistence Core Principles are:

Prioritize your target hosts; make sure to have as much info as possible Assign who will make initial calls, who will do presentations Research for connections to that congregation or denomination PLAN : PEOPLE : Network, network, network Challenge everyone connected to the network, particularly board members, to find at least three people connected to each target congregation Find out how “things work” at target congregations; whose support is needed etc.

PRESENT SETTING UP APPOINTMENTS Best practices for setting up appointments – Use referrals – Stress local group and local need – You want to introduce, not looking for commitment – Invite lay leaders to the meeting – Objective: getting a meeting— that’s it! #1 tool: the phone Do a mailing? NO!!! Clergy groups: shortcut or side-trip?

PRESENT AT THE CONGREGATION Bring up common objections if they don’t Tour the congregational space Ask for the next step and to be included Be enthusiastic!!! Go in teams when possible Show intro DVD Stick to stated time for meeting Let congregations know— they need Family Promise, not the other way around

DVD Visuals Handouts Typical week, brochure When to use PowerPoint PRESENTATION: KEY MATERIALS PRESENTATION: MAJOR OBJECTIONS Not enough available space Not enough volunteers Insurance Cost Who are “those people…”

PRESENTATION FOLLOW-UP: MUST HAVE A NEXT STEP Try to attend the next meeting Invite to visit other hosts Come in and speak to affinity groups (Bible study, Hadassah, etc.) Give them a covenant to sign

PERSISTENCE Stay in communication Ask for references to other congregations

BEST PRACTICES FOR RECRUITING Always ask for the next step: To get supports to become hosts, fully vest them in the program— treat them like hosts. Keep former hosts in the information loop. Approach with a positive: Congregations need this program Use existing hosts as showcases for the program. Do not do a mailing Use visuals: poster boards with network activities, DVDs, handouts with photos. Review your terminology: “children & their families facing homelessness”; not “shelter” and “the homeless” Network! Identify champions in congregations to provide an insider Map out a target area with pins for hosts; add pins as you add congregations.

SPECIAL CONCERNS: Renewing former host Find out why they stopped (often an easily resolved reason) Prepare to show them how the program has changed Ask the leaders what they liked about the program Restate the need Second rotation Do assessment to ensure need and capacity Recruit hosts but do not add to current rotation; wait for enough to launch second rotation Use clergy contacts, especially if expanding into nearby geographical area

SPECIAL CONCERNS: Increasing diversity Ignorance is better than assumption: ask! Find someone from that tradition to approach the congregation with you Use the day center as the point of entry to avoid being associated with a specific denomination Get “blessing” from larger organization Use references from other networks Ask for their help with guests from that background, ie translation, cultural info Be sensitive to language and appearance of the Affiliate

Handouts are on the affiliate website and by brand with local name Released photos available to illustrate local materials Endorsement letters for specific denominations or call with any questions On-site training and support can be provided —ask your regional rep or National RESOURCES FOR AFFILIATES