Nonprofit Assistance Center, in partnership with Refugee Federation Service Center, Refugee Women's Alliance, Jewish Family Services, and sixteen grass roots community-based Mutual Assistance Associations providing employment and social services to refugees in the Puget Sound region, will demonstrate the effectiveness of using web-based and mobile technology to enhance community service delivery. The goals of the project include the introduction of new technology (pocket PC phone and Tablet PC) for point of contact data entry/management, shared information dissemination, data collection and web-based messaging support for program staff working in the field; development of compatible information management, reporting and invoicing system used for inter/intra agency purposes; development of a consolidated, web-based e-mail and inter/intra agency communications model that replaces the current use of multiple and fragmented free e-mail systems; and provision of hardware/software training and follow-up support for staff using the newly integrated system.
The project will result in the following outcomes: demonstration of the effectiveness of new technology model that will link funders, service providers and others through the use of web-based technology; redesign of informational management processes at agency and system levels; increased knowledge of technology resources that support streamlined efficiency for service delivery practices; and provision of a program design prototype that can be replicated.
The project addresses the emerging technology needs of partner organizations in a tiered approach, enhancing capacity within larger participating organizations, while also building infrastructure within smaller organizations in King County. Through an expansion of the knowledge and use of technology for human service delivery system support, local community-based service providers will increase staff efficiency and productivity; increase successful client contacts; reduce service delivery costs and duplication of client services; increase communication among all local service providers; and realize more accurate client participation in tracking and reporting systems.
