Business Outreach

Experiences to Share

Brochures, magnets and posters
Many counties (including Warren, Harnett, Onslow, Madison, Perquimans) report outreach to area businesses through brochures, magnets, and posters that are posted in lobbies and on windows (Chatham, Robeson), given to Human Resources Departments (Scotland, Alexander), taken to college campuses (Jackson) and left in other public places like libraries, post offices and malls (Granville, Robeson, Haywood, Dare). In the Toe River District (Avery, Yancey and Mitchell), HCCs leave information at the local electric company offices and textile mills.

In addition, business sponsored health fairs and community events (Forsyth, Columbus) are perfect venues for spreading the word to eligible families.

Partners
Partnering with local businesses has been key for many counties.

I like to leave brochures at restaurants to post on employee bulletin boards. I also solicit unwanted promotional items to use as table incentives at health fairs-- i.e. coloring books, crayons, toys, etc -- Yvonne Lambert, Surry County

We attend monthly staff meetings with local employers (Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, locally owned businesses, etc...)
-- Rebecca Grindstaff, Alamance County

We targeted temp agencies.
-- Mark Cox, Gaston County

I make sure drug stores have envelope stuffers to put into prescription bags.
-- Brenda Phipps, Ashe and Alleghany Counties

I have gone to local pharmacies and spoken with pharmacy staff about the benefits of the programs. This way, they are able to describe the benefits of the program.

Once while speaking with the Pharmacy Technician at a local Pharmacy, I learned that she had no insurance for her child. She was a single parent and could barely afford Child Care. When I described the program she was relieved to know that she would qualify for the program. Later that next month, when I dropped off more information/applications, she stopped me and thanked me for telling her about the program. She said that her child had developed pneumonia shortly after she started coverage and that she would not have been able to afford the emergency room visit or the prescriptions.
-- Amy Williams, Dare County

Articles in the Chamber newsletters and handouts to employers at Job Fairs.
--Diana Tini, Mecklenburg Co.

Give display posters to all new businesses in the county.
-- Linda R. Robinson & Linda Toudle, Jones Co.

I got a list from the department of economic development of small business who don't offer medical insurance and sent informational packets for them to share with the employees.
-- Ann Bolen, Brunswick County

During the Toys for Tots campaign, we distribute HC/NCHC information to all businesses who participate.
-- Darrell Renfroe, Orange County

We put the large posters in a frame, to prevent from using tape on the walls.
-- Annie Wright, Vance County

We place nice posters and displays at entrances or hallways using a gold plated frame with cut-out pictures of clip-art.
-- Wilma Young, Haywood County

I partner with super centers by setting up displays and providing literature on services to clients and answering their questions or concerns.
--Gloria Allen, Robeson County

In Polk County, the Chamber of Commerce includes HC/NCHC local info in business directory. -- Joan Keuper, Polk County

Bi-Lo's allowed me to setup displays and handout brochures.
-- Priscilla Allison, Cabarrus County

Worked with Burger King to place HC/NCHC information in the kids meals. Wal-Mart invites us to any resource fair they have.
-- Valair Jones-Oakley, Wake County

We had booths at Job Fairs. We also use Employment Security Commission workers outposted at the DSS to take information on HC/NCHC when they do monthly employer visits. The primary purpose of these visits is to recruit employers who will hire Work First clients, but we also use this as an opportunity to persuade employers to consider it a good business practice to inform their employees about HC/NCHC if they don't have or can't afford private insurance.
-- Beth Bowen, New Hanover County

An ongoing method of reaching businesses can be established by contacting your local chamber of Commerce and asking for the Director of Business and Industry Services or someone in economic development. -- Harriett Marlor, Buncombe County

Human
Resource Departments

Human Resource Officers at business locations have outreach materials on hand to give to employees who are eligible for the HC/NCHC insurance programs.
--Annie Locklear, Scotland County

We go to Job Fairs and post information about the program at JobLinks and the Employment Security Commission.
-- Anne Short and Sheila Wellmon, Cleveland County

When factories are closing, several counties (Wake, Columbus, Person, Alleghany) make sure employees know about HC/NCHC.

When a local factory closed, application packets were taken to the facility for interested employees.
-- Detha Shepherd, Alleghany County

We leave materials at Human Resource Departments, especially when layoffs are involved.
--Debbie Clayton, Person County

From "NC Covering Kids: A Retrospective"
(A report on the RWJ Covering Kids grant outreach activities of 1999-2001)

(Below are excepts from the Business Outreach efforts of Buncombe, Edgecombe and Guilford counties. For additional ideas, see Overall Lessons & Conclusions)

A foot in the door
A personal contact by the right person is key. In Buncombe, this person was an energetic outreach worker with experience in both insurance sales and public assistance programs. In Guilford, insurance brokers who work with small businesses and are affiliated with a local organization of insurance brokers appeared to be effective (common interest in finding health insurance for employees). The business tool kit helped staff in Edgecombe County to engage employers.

Persistence Counts
Multiple contacts are necessary to reinforce messages and gain trust. Businesses are busy and needs change. One effective technique is to send information to the employer and to ask permission to call back in a couple of months to check in and see if a need might exist. Businesses are accustomed to this practice and it serves to demonstrate a measure of stability to an employer.

Realistic expectations
Businesses/employers were most interested in activities that required a minimum of their time such as hanging a poster in a break room and giving out information, rather than helping complete applications.

It was important to have a reliable resource where employers could refer employees, to publicize any telephone assistance services on all printed materials, and to ensure that the employer could easily contact knowledgeable program representatives with questions and as needs arose.

Useful tools/materials
The most effective tools and materials were: phone, outreach coordinator, business brochure, one-page summary of benefits, applications, posters, and in Edgecombe, the business tool kit. The state-produced materials were particularly helpful when they allowed space to insert a local contact number.