Public Relations for Rehabilitation Facilities

The goal of this publication is to provide rehabilitation facilities with a guide to improve their image in the community and increase contract sales, job placements, donations, and client numbers. It is intended (1) to assist them in identifying individuals or groups that facilities should be trying to reach with their public relations efforts and (2) to list the types of public information messages or techniques that can or should be used when developing and transmitting public information to those identified groups. The first section addresses the need for facility public relations. Section 2 discusses planning of a public relations program, including administrative involvement, determining program directions, selection of public relations director, staff involvement, reviewing the past, and evaluating the results. The next three sections focus on the three major target groups the facility will want to reach: (1) handicapped persons and those individuals, groups, or agencies and organizations working with them; (2) business groups (including employers); and (3) community groups. In each section subgroups within the target group are discussed, and then the messages and techniques for developing the messages relevant to the client groups are considered. (YLB)