Community-based identification and recruitment establishes partnerships
with community members and organizations that can assist with the identification
and recruitment process. This approach includes strategies to be
used outside of the schools to find eligible migrants who may not be attending
school or who have no siblings in school.
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The recruiter establishes contact with local agricultural employers—at
first to be allowed to interview the workers, and later to have the
employer contact the recruiter when new employees are hired.
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The recruiter establishes similar contacts with agencies and businesses
that serve migrant families for the purpose of having them assist
by referring potential eligible families. Community agency contacts
may include health clinics, day care centers, adult education program
providers, government agencies, farm worker unions, legal aid agencies,
and churches. Business contacts may include laundromats, stores, movie
theaters, restaurants, and shopping malls.
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Newsletters, posters, and fliers are utilized to recruit potential
migrant families by placing them in prominent locations throughout
the community.
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The media is contacted and announcements are played on local radio
and television stations. Announcements are also placed in the public
service announcement section of the local newspaper.
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Other migrant families are a rich source of information. They know
of other families and coworkers who may qualify, employers which may
have been missed, and other places that potential migrant families
may frequent, such as parks and flea markets.
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Recruiters should also conduct door-to-door surveys in high-impact
neighborhoods.
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Another essential aspect of community-based identification and recruitment
is the establishment of community partnerships which may yield referrals
of out-of-school youth and young adults.
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Finally, flexible hours are crucial in the design of community-based
recruitment efforts.
