Effective Recruitment Strategies for Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Programs

Recruitment of participants into any community based project can be a significant challenge, particularly for Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes grantees funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. One of these grantees, the 2013-2016 enderson Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program, implemented six recruitment strategies: 1) person-to-person referrals, 2) direct mail, 3) door-to-door neighborhood canvassing, 4) child-oriented community event outreach, 5) passive program information, and 6) general event outreach. Program staff reached more than 10,000 individuals via these methods, and 136 participants ultimately were enrolled. The success of each method was determined by its percentage yield of enrolled participants. Community event outreach resulted in the greatest number of contacts, while person-to person referrals and direct mailings yielded the most enrolled participants with minimal staff time required. Landlords were essential to the enrollment of rental units. These results might help provide insight to some of the most effective strategies for recruitment into Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes programs.