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2007: People are using the Internet to find help!
Over 321,000 views of resources and services
in Washington State for 2007. Over 57,000 views for resources in
Benton and Franklin Counties alone. Making vital information easily
available to help people out of poverty is critical to the success
of our communities. 4People.org provides each county with its
own single point of contact website with all the local resources
online. These resources have helped reduce homelessness, reduce
recidivism for reentry offenders, and improved self sufficiency of
individuals and families. 4People.org also provides the newest tools
available that are helping families determine if they are self
sufficient, financially solvent, mentally stable, have access to
health care and government programs. By coordinating services
provided by government, non-profit, and faith based organizations,
communities are maximizing the ever decreasing community resources.
2006 – Present.
The county portals are expanded to include all counties on the
western side of the state. County Resources, Hotline Webpages, and
Family Resources and Referral Lists are featured on each county
page. Detailed Agency, Program, and Services data with keyword
searching is not available due to database licensing constraints.
The case management module of the
4People/Tapestry software is now being used by several organizations
in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties. In Benton/Franklin
counties, the Community Action Committee (BFCAC) took the lead in
forming Home Base, a consortium of the BFCAC, DSHS, faith based
organizations, BF Health Department, and a growing number of other
health and human service providers. Home Base provides assistance
and support for refugees from Katrina and other disasters, and the
homeless. 1000 homeless or potentially homeless are assessed and
provided services. A 20% reduction in homelessness is seen in the
first year.
In Yakima County, Kids Connect,
another consortium, connects families with children birth to 19
years to health care and insurance. 3000 uninsured children/parents
are provided health care.
4People becomes self-sustaining, from a software licensing
standpoint, through case management usage fees. The usage fees are
highly affordable (e.g. $500/yr per agency) and far, far less than
any single agency could afford.
4People receives a grant from US
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children
& Families. This is a capacity building grant and is being used to
market the online I& R resources in eastern Washington.
The future.
The Katrina disaster showed that no one organization can stand alone
and help all the people all the time. Also learned was that top
down management only works for those in the right place and time.
4People is a new model, where the
focus is the client - the at risk family or individual. 4People
provides the tools for the caseworkers from multiple agencies to
focus on the client. The I & R database and the case management
system combine to form a living tool for real time use as well as in
standby mode in the event of another disaster.
Just some of the expansion goals
include:
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Increasing the public awareness
of 4People in eastern Washington (the HHS grant is a start)
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Increasing the public awareness
of 4People in western Washington
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Adding the western Washington
counties to the I & R database (about $60,000 in startup
licensing fees alone)
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More fully develop 4People.org
as a disaster readiness and relief resource
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Develop and deploy “Resource
and Referral Lists” for Seniors and Youth
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Expand the server capacity of
4People including remote backup, mirrored sites, and increased
bandwidth
You can help.
4People needs sponsors for the web site, help in promoting public
awareness of 4people.org, funding and equipment for expanded server
capacity, case workers for day-to-day operations and in standby for
emergencies. Visit us at
www.4people.org
HISTORY: Bi-county homeless rate drops 20%.
3000 uninsured people get health care. Get help online!
4People is an online Information and Referral (I & R) service and
case management system serving the state of Washington (see
www.4people.org ).
4People got its start in 1997 when a
consortium of health care providers, employment specialists, and
non-profit agencies in Chelan and Douglas counties came together
with a common goal: to provide a comprehensive, online database of
health and human services for their bi-county area. They chose
VisionLink, based in Boulder, Colorado, to provide the online
software. That software, Tapestry, has since grown to become the
nation’s leading community integration system and is used by a wide
range of government and non-profit organizations to provide
Information & Referral, case management, disaster relief management,
homeless shelter management, Elder Care services, and much more.
Tapestry is used by CAN (Coordinated Assistance Network –
www.can.org) to coordinate disaster relief for Katrina victims
nationwide.
The year 2000.
4People spreads to Yakima County with the United Way taking the lead
in that area. Still an informal consortium, 4People’s increased
membership is significantly expanded the I & R database. The United
Way of Yakima dedicated a full time AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In
Service To America) to the cause.
2002.
The RECA Foundation (Realizing Every Community Access) joins the
consortium. RECA has provided Information Technology support to low
income families and non-profit organizations in Benton and Franklin
counties since 1992. RECA brings a great deal of experience in
designing and running online resources for their community. But
none of the designs proved to be self sustaining – the 4People
database shows great promise to overcome the sustainability hurdle.
RECA takes on the administration and marketing of 4People, expanding
the I & R database to include Benton and Franklin Counties. The
RECA board and other volunteers initiates an effort to expand the
database to all of eastern Washington.
2004.
4People is formalized as a Washington State non-profit and gains
federal 501(c)3 status. The administration of 4People is governed
and run by an all volunteer board of directors. One full time
AmeriCorp VISTA is employed through the RECA Foundation’s Community
Technology Centers Network affiliation.
2004 – 2006. The
VisionLink licensing agreement allows for the I & R database to
include all counties in eastern Washington. The I & R database is
now fully populated for all 19 counties. County specific portals
are created that allow for county specific keyword searches.
Keyword searches yield a detailed list of services and associated
programs and agencies that can be further refined by additional
keyword restraints. Users may also use the “County Resources”
button located on each county page to gain instant access to a
comprehensive list of resources with a phone number and, if
available, web site link. A “Hotline Webpages” button yields a list
of National and Statewide hotlines and web pages. A printable
“Family Resource and Referral List” is also available for each
county.
Please e-mail contact@4people.org or
1- 509.543.2910 for more information
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Welcome to... 4people.org