client database
CTC Program Building, Outreach, and Support
Organization:
Homeless Prenatal Program VISTA Name:
Ellen-Rae Cachola
Program Start:
9/2005
Program End:
9/2006
Project Description:
The Americorps VISTA volunteer would expand our program by developing and piloting a technology class for our English speaking clients, the majority of whom are African-American. The goal is to motivate women from the HPP’s English speaking support groups to avail themselves of the resources in the computer lab. To reinforce and extend the class experience, the Americorps*VISTA will create a weblog specifically for these clients where they can share their interests, issues, questions and accomplishments. The weblog community will serve as an additional support group to these parents as they seek ways out of poverty. Through participation in classes, one-on-one instruction, and the weblog, these clients will upgrade their job and communication skills.
Our 2004-2005 VISTA developed a community web-site for homeless families and families in jeopardy of becoming homeless. This website is fast becoming a vital resource to such families and to case managers throughout the region for instant access to resource information. This years Americorps VISTA would expand the use of the website by (1) developing a workshop to introduce the website to new users, both clients and case managers, (2) develop promotional materials such as email announcements and posters, and (3) work with other volunteers to develop a separate homepage, navigation system and additional features just for case managers.
The Americorps*VISTA volunteer would expand our program by developing and coordinating a staff development program in the CTC. Since one of the best practices for strengthening a program such as ours is to invest in our case workers, we are planning to use the CTC for more staff development than in previous years. We will develop an on-line assessment tool to establish a baseline of the technology skills of all staff members. Using this data we will develop and coordinate skill set workshops tailored to staff needs that will be held in the CTC.
To strengthen and expand our job readiness program the Americorps*VISTA will be responsible for developing 5 In order to do this the VISTA will identify, contact and visit appropriate educational and vocational training programs. In addition the VISTA will develop referral protocols between these programs and HPP Case Managers.
The Americorps*VISTA volunteer will also coordinate our “Computers in the Home” Project. This project takes our capacity to give technological skills and experience to the underserved population beyond the walls of our CTC. Funded to provide 40 families with refurbished computers and in-home tech support through ReliaTech, a social venture project of StreetTech of Richmond, CA., participants receive training and, upon completion of the training, computers and periodic in-home tech support. In addition, clients who have received computers for their homes continue to receive training at the HPP’s CTC.
Finally, the Americorps*VISTA will collaborate with our partners in the Community Connectivity Collaboration (One Economy, StreetTech, ReliaTech, Canal Alliance, TechFutures), a group formed to define needs of local CTC’s and find ways to seek funding. The VISTA will attend CCC meetings and other partnering events that may develop.
Project Outcome:
I know that I speak for the entire staff of the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) when I say that Ellen-Rae Cachola has been a boon to our organization. As her supervisor in the Community Technology Center it has been my pleasure to work very closely with her for the last 12 months. She is highly committed, intelligent, and industrious. She is extremely productive and always looking for new projects. She is also very personable, able to interact warmly with the diverse groups of people who work in our program and who come here for services. We are very lucky that she has stayed on at HPP as a part-time employee while she attends graduate school in San Francisco.
Ellen’s duties at HPP have included maintaining two websites, teaching technology in English and in Spanish, maintaining and developing the client database on Microsft Access, as well as trouble shooting technology problems in the lab and at staff workstations. She has worked with the local cable television access station to create PSAs and informational programming. In addition she has created an online generator for our paper forms which allows staff to print forms on an as needed basis from their own computers. She has also designed and published agency literature and signage in english and in spanish.
Student Tracking Database Implementation
Organization:
Computer C.O.R.E. VISTA Name:
Carl Seifert
Program Start:
9/2006
Program End:
5/2007
Project Description:
Our VISTA, Carl Seifert, was brought in to help us implement a student tracking system. This system will be extremely beneficial to the organization as a whole. In particular, it will be used by the staff to plan, organize and better track each student and graduate (not to mention reducing paper files). It also will be beneficial for reporting Computer CORE’s successes to funding organizations because the data from our graduates will help us to measure the impact of CORE in the in the lives of our graduates and the surrounding community.
Project Outcome:
Carl has completed the customization and implementation of the database (CORE Connections) ahead of schedule. He has provided tutorials on functionality and usability for staff and relevant volunteers; currently he is in the process of creating documentation for future volunteers, staff members and administrators of the database. Carl oversaw entry of relevant data into the system. Also, he has implemented the process for surveying graduates in the future. Carl’s customization and implementation of the database could not have been done by other staff members due to their heavy workloads. With CORE Connections now in place, the staff and volunteers can look forward to easier information gathering. Additionally, the organization will certainly benefit from the ability to more accurately report on the successes of our students after graduation. CORE will be in a better position sustain itself through grant funding.
"Star Center" Database Builder
Organization:
West Tennessee Special Technology Access Resource Center VISTA Name:
Brent Barker
Program Start:
1/2007
Program End:
1/2008
Project Description:
Mr. Barker’s project is designed to expand the STAR Center’s capacity by creating a system for electronic storage of client files and implement these plans and procedures with the use of volunteers.
Project Outcome:
Mr. Barker has assisted with the development for electronic storage of client files, successfully scanned the entire contents of 75% of our client files, and provided electronic access to the files increasing staff efficiency by making information more available. This access has changed the process of checking out files to the simple click of a button.
CTC Program Building
Organization:
Bruce Wall Ministries/Prep Community Computer Center VISTA Name:
Katie Peterson
Program Start:
4/2002
Program End:
4/2003
Project Description:
She has done a significant amount of development on our database and system for tracking participants and volunteers. She has also helped coordinate our curriculum development for our classes.
Project Outcome:
Katie has now organized and put curriculum materials for over 20 classes on the Web. These classes range from Introduction to Computer to Certification classes. Katie has also developed a system for us to track donations and give receipts to individuals. She has also been helping to set up accounting for TechMission, Inc. In all of this, Katie has done an outstanding job of documenting her processes for others to take over.
Katie has also finished development on our database and system for tracking participants and volunteers. She developed reports which allow us to monitor how participants are progressing through programs. In addition, she has developed over 20 pages of documentation for her position for someone else to take over. She has been training another staff person to take over many of her duties.
Katie has also helped coordinate our curriculum development for our classes. She has now organized and put curriculum materials for over 20 classes on the Web. These classes range from Introduction to Computer to Certification classes. Katie has also developed a system for us to track donations and give receipts to individuals. She has also been helping to set up accounting for TechMission, Inc. In all of this, Katie has done an outstanding job of documenting her processes for others to take over.