Event Planning Guide: Lessons Learned from the Kentucky Inclusive Workforce Summit

In September 2023, the Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) Kentucky team cohosted its Inclusive Workforce Summit with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Events like this can help RETAIN programs promote themselves, recruit employers, and advance SAW/RTW best practices with key audiences. This guide will provide information about how to plan a similar event for your RETAIN program using lessons from RETAIN Kentucky’s success.

Event Planning Guide: Lessons Learned from the Kentucky Inclusive Workforce Summit


RETAIN at Work: Success Story – Spring 2024

These state RETAIN Success Stories focus on the people, processes, or policies that are enhancing each state’s stay-at-work/return-to-work program. You can use these Success Stories to promote your program and enhance your outreach with key stakeholders. You may consider sharing your state’s story through your RETAIN program website, social media network channels, or in localized media pitches. We also suggest you read the stories from other states to see what you may learn from their successes. Find sample Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts you can customize to help spread awareness of your state RETAIN success story in our RETAIN Success Story Social Media Toolkit

Kentucky RETAIN Success Story
Minnesota RETAIN Success Story
Vermont RETAIN Success Story
Kansas RETAIN Success Story


Strategic Measurement Plan Template

This resource outlines key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to use when evaluating the effectiveness of communications and public relations (PR) efforts. The template helps organizations develop a custom measurement plan to track and analyze the impact of their communications strategies, assess the success of their communications campaigns, and make data-driven decisions to improve future initiatives. It is designed to be used with the Communications Plan Guide and Sample Template.

Link: Strategic Measurement Plan Template
Link: Communications Plan Guide
LinkCommunications Plan Sample Template

RETAIN at Work: Success Story – Winter 2023

This state RETAIN Success Stories focus on the importance of provider champions. You can use Success Stories to promote your program and enhance your outreach with key stakeholders. You may consider sharing your state’s story through your RETAIN program website, social media network channels, or in localized media pitches. We also suggest you read the stories from other states to see what you may learn from their successes. Find sample Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts you can customize to help spread awareness of your state RETAIN success story in our RETAIN Success Story Social Media Toolkit

Ohio RETAIN Success Story


RETAIN at Work: Success Stories – Fall 2023

These state RETAIN Success Stories focus on the people, processes, or policies that are enhancing each state’s stay-at-work/return-to-work program. You can use these Success Stories to promote your program and enhance your outreach with key stakeholders. You may consider sharing your state’s story through your RETAIN program website, social media network channels, or in localized media pitches. We also suggest you read the stories from other states to see what you may learn from their successes. Find sample Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts you can customize to help spread awareness of your state RETAIN success story in our RETAIN Success Story Social Media Toolkit

Kentucky RETAIN Success Story
Minnesota RETAIN Video Success Story


Tips for Promoting Your RETAIN Project Through Social Media
For RETAIN teams considering social media as a communications tactic, this guide explores key considerations and best practices.

Link: Tips for Promoting Your RETAIN Project Through Social Media

Link: Social Media Planner


RETAIN at Work: Success Stories – May 2023

These state RETAIN Success Stories focus on the people, processes, or policies that are enhancing each state’s stay-at-work/return-to-work program. You can use these Success Stories to promote your program and enhance your outreach with key stakeholders. You may consider sharing your state’s story through your RETAIN program website, social media network channels, or in localized media pitches. We also suggest you read the stories from other states to see what you may learn from their successes. Find sample Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts you can customize to help spread awareness of your state RETAIN success story in our RETAIN Success Story Social Media Toolkit

Kansas RETAIN Success Story
Ohio RETAIN Success Story
Vermont RETAIN Video Success Story

Social Media Toolkit

This toolkit contains sample Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts you can customize to help spread awareness of your state RETAIN Success Story to providers, employers, partners, and potential participants. The images are available for download here and have been sized appropriately for each social network.

Link: Success Story Social Media Toolkit
Link: Images for download


RETAIN at Work: Success Stories – November 2022

These five state RETAIN Success Stories focus on the people, processes, or policies that are enhancing each state’s stay-at-work/return-to-work program. You can use these Success Stories to promote your program and enhance your outreach with key stakeholders. You may consider sharing your state’s story through your RETAIN program website, social media network channels, or in localized media pitches. We also suggest you read the stories from other states to see what you may learn from their successes. Find sample Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts you can customize to help spread awareness of your state RETAIN success story in our RETAIN Success Story Social Media Toolkit

Kansas RETAIN Success Story
Kentucky RETAIN Success Story
Minnesota RETAIN Success Story
Ohio RETAIN Success Story
Vermont RETAIN Success Story


RETAIN Communications Technical Assistance Menu

Strategic, effective communications are critically important to building effective relationships with RETAIN stakeholders. The Bizzell Group can help your teams plan, develop, refine and evaluate your RETAIN communications. To learn more about the services available through The Bizzell Group, please review the Communications Technical Assistance menu.


RETAIN at Work: Success Stories – March 2022
These five state RETAIN Success Stories focus on the people, processes, or policies that are enhancing each state’s stay-at-work/return-to-work program. You can use these Success Stories to promote your program and enhance your outreach with key stakeholders. You may consider sharing your state’s story through your RETAIN program website, social media network channels, or in localized media pitches. We also suggest you read the stories from other states to see what you may learn from their successes.


Kansas RETAIN Success Story
Minnesota RETAIN Success Story
Ohio RETAIN Success Story
Vermont RETAIN Success Story
Kentucky RETAIN Success Story



Communications Plan Guide and Template

This resource provides step-by guidance to assist you with developing your state’s strategic RETAIN communications plan. This guide details the key elements necessary for designing and implementing a successful plan. Sample text is provided throughout as examples of effective communication and structure. Also included is an editable Strategic Communications Plan Template for you to customize.


Link: Communications Plan Guide 
LinkCommunications Plan Sample Template
Link: Strategic Measurement Plan Template
 



Sample RETAIN Letter to Providers
This resource provides a guide and template to assist your communication with providers regarding RETAIN participants. This template is customizable to best meet the needs of your state and participants. Sample text is provided throughout as examples of effective communication and structure. Also included is a Participant Status Form for providers to complete regarding their patients.

Link: Sample RETAIN Letter to Providers


RETAIN Infographic (May 2021

RETAIN connects health care providers, patients, and employers by offering early intervention strategies and coordination to support working individuals after injury or illness. Significant numbers of American workers experience injury and illness each year, inhibiting their full participation in the workforce. Recovery rates from injury or illness improve when employees stay connected to their work communities, return to their daily roles and routines, and continue to participate in the labor force. Our new infographic shares a snapshot of core partnership categories and eligibility criteria across Phase 1 RETAIN grantees.


Link: RETAIN Infographic (May 2021)


Phase 2 Transition Materials: Talking Points, Press Release, and Resources
These documents are designed to provide RETAIN Phase 2 awardees and non-awardees with materials to use when communicating with stakeholders regarding the future of their stay-at-work/return-to-work (SAW/RTW) programs and outcomes.

For states concluding their RETAIN work with Phase 1, talking points have been provided to highlight the successes and accomplishments of the work done in Phase 1, as well as language to indicate the future of each state’s program and efforts.


For states continuing on to Phase 2, talking points have been provided to help communicate continued participation in SAW/RTW efforts with stakeholders.

A press release template has also been included to notify stakeholders of the state’s plans for the program moving forward. The RETAIN Phase 2 transition resources document includes strategies to assist states build from their Phase 1 work to advance future SAW/RTW efforts.
Link: Talking Points for Phase 2 Non-Awardee States

Link: Talking Points for Phase 2 Awardee States

LinkPhase 2 Press Release

Link: Phase 2 Resources for States


Capitalizing on National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) occurs every October and presents a prime communications opportunity for RETAIN states. This fact sheet explores a number of ways for RETAIN teams to share information about NDEAM and tie their RETAIN efforts to the campaign.  

Link: Capitalizing on National Disability Employment Awareness Month

RETAIN at Work: Success Stories – July 2020
These eight narratives illustrate RETAIN state accomplishments at both the project and individual level. States are encouraged to promote their own success stories through communications channels such as newsletters, social media, blogs, and local media outlets, as appropriate. Contact RETAIN TA for ideas and assistance. 


 California: Engaging a Physical Therapist in Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Success

 Connecticut: Return-to-Work Across Disciplines

 Kansas: Workforce Retention Through Retraining

 Kentucky: Tapping the Power of Health Care Champions

 Minnesota: Staff Spotlight – RETAIN Employer Outreach Specialist

 Ohio: Optimizing Data – The Innovate Ohio Data Lake

Vermont: Empowerment – An Essential Ingredient in the Return-to-Work Process

 Washington: Staff Spotlight – A Focus on Service

 

Making Your Products Accessible: Tips & Resources for RETAIN State Awardees
This fact sheet explores the importance of having an accessibility mindset and offers tips and resources for ensuring your RETAIN project’s documents, websites, and other products are accessible to everyone.

Link: Making Your Products Accessible: Tips & Resources for RETAIN State Awardees


A Guide to External Communications About COVID-19 and RETAIN
This resource (intended for your internal use only) provides general tips for communicating during a disruptive event, sample messaging to assure your stakeholders RETAIN is still here to help them during the pandemic, and COVID-19-related resource links that may be useful to your stakeholders.

Link: A Guide to External Communications About COVID-19 and RETAIN


Communications Roadmap for RETAIN Awardees
A primer to help you consider how and where to infuse effective marketing and communications into your pilot activities. It presents four action steps for outlining a strategic communications plan.

Link: Communications Roadmap for RETAIN Awardees

 

Communications Toolkit for RETAIN Awardees
A tool to help you develop branded, message-consistent communications materials for your RETAIN demonstration project. It includes a communications checklist, as well as brand/style guidelines and sample language to use in your communications materials.

Link: Communications Toolkit for RETAIN Awardees


Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work (SAW/RTW) Resource Links

A list of resource links that RETAIN awardees can consider referencing in their communications materials and on RETAIN websites. Segmented by audience, the resources can be helpful in educating those who want to learn more about stay-at-work/return-to-work.


Link: RETAIN Demonstration Projects SAW/RTW Resource Links

 

RETAIN Key National Observances Calendar

A listing of Key National Observances & Campaigns of interest to the RETAIN community.


Link: RETAIN Key National Observances

Scripting to Use with Target Audiences
A series of stakeholder scripts designed to help you answer commonly asked questions about RETAIN from three key audiences—potential worker participants/patients, employers, and treating physicians. Each script includes a sample "elevator pitch" about RETAIN, as well as audience-specific answers to key questions that may arise during the recruitment and enrollment process.

Link: Scripts for Target Audiences

Last modified: Thursday, August 1, 2024, 11:06 AM