Building a Successful Onboarding for Small to Medium-Size Programs

Onboarding new staff in small to medium-sized Community Navigation programs can feel overwhelming when resources are tight. This webinar provides an overview of a proven, 90-day blueprint for Community Navigation teams. Attendees will learn how to structure the first three months to maximize staff retention, accelerate readiness, and maintain high-quality care for the community. You'll also learn how to be a strong source of support at the same time.

Objectives: 

• Deconstruct a successful 90-day onboarding timeline into manageable blocks

• Identify core competencies and milestones essential for assessing staff readiness

• Streamline training processes to reduce the administrative burden on small management and training teams.

• Implement evaluation tools to measure new-hire progress, build confidence, and prioritize staff support.

Speaker: Sara Hall, United Way of Marathon County

Sara Hall is the Line Operations Coordinator for United Way’s 211 in Marathon County, Wisconsin, where she has worked for 12 years. A Certified Resource Specialist (CRS) and Certified Resource Specialist–Database Curator (CRS-DC), Sara provides call handling and call logging training for new staff, manages resource database records, and serves as a liaison for special projects. She regularly updates training materials and oversees staff training to meet the evolving demands of community navigation, ensuring staff are equipped to respond to changing community needs and service systems. Her work also includes coordinating volunteer tax preparation, scheduling, and senior leaf-raking registration programs across two counties. She has participated in statewide emergency management drills and oversees staff training for technology changes, disaster activations, and other statewide projects.

Sara serves on and previously chaired 211 Wisconsin’s Call Handling Committee. She is passionate about creating a call experience in which every caller feels seen, heard, and supported, while ensuring accurate data collection and documentation. She believes that balancing compassionate service with quality data collection strengthens both individual outcomes and the community's ability to identify and respond to emerging needs.