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BAYVIEW MAGIC’S TECHNOLOGY PLAN
Because one of the key objectives of MAGIC’s Comprehensive Strategy is to improve and enhance communication, collaboration and cooperation between individuals, families, youth and family providers, youth and government agencies, technology will play a key role in facilitating not only the community planning process, but also in the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategy.
Currently, MAGIC maintains a website which lists only basic information about MAGIC’s mission and work, and distributes information from its weekly meetings via email. MAGIC’s vision for its technology plan will significantly expand its on-line to provide a virtual resource center available to youth, families, government and youth agencies.
MAGIC’s technology plan involves a five components: (1) online outreach to MAGIC members, participants and volunteers; (2) providing internet access to service providers and families who need current information concerning youth and family service providers and community resources; (3) data networking between youth and family service providers, so they can share access to important statistical information and agency reports; (4) training on technology for members of youth and family service agencies; (5) pooling technology resources to benefit participating youth agencies.
MAGIC’s On-LineYouth & Family Resource Center
(1) On-line Outreach to Youth Agencies, Juvenile Justice Stakeholders and Participants
Through its website, Bayview MAGIC reaches out to youth and families inside the targeted community, resource providers both inside and outside the community, and juvenile justice stakeholders. MAGIC’s website contains the organization’s plans, research papers, resources, events and activities. MAGIC publicizes its website through published news articles, advertisements in community newspapers and word-of-mouth.
However, MAGIC is now ready to take the next step. First, MAGIC proposes to create and design an interactive, web-based listing of all youth and family services available to BVHP residents --- a virtual community resource center. The center will feature specific information about the agencies’ services, programs and activities, and links to the websites of participating agencies. The website will also contain a community calendar, a listing of resources available for youth and contact information.
Second, the website will help mobilize volunteers for MAGIC’s agencies by allowing persons interested in participating in MAGIC’s programs to register on-line and select those activities which they wish to become involved in.
Third, the website will allow service providers within BVHP to communicate with one another, by permitting users to post important information, share knowledge, statistical information and resources.
Finally, the website will connect youth and family service agencies in BVHP with outside agencies, businesses and resources.
(2) Providing Internet Access to Service Providers and Families
Currently, there are 41 agencies in the BVHP district which provide services to at-risk youth. It is estimated that approximately two-thirds of these agencies have high speed, internet access that would permit them to access MAGIC’s website, while one-third do not. MAGIC will seek grant funding to provide high speed, internet access to agencies currently without internet access.
(3) Data networking between youth service providers
Data collection and information sharing between youth service providers, the juvenile justice stakeholders and community members is critical to the success of the Comprehensive Strategy. Currently, many service providers have no means to communicate with one another, and there is little coordination and collaboration between them. Other on-line directories have a city-wide focus, and do not provide specific information relating to services available to BVHP youth.
In order to maximize information distribution among participants, the MAGIC website will also include a self-posting information boards. The agency information board will allow agencies to post statistical data, provide up-to-date information concerning youth services, programs and activities, and information that is of interest to service providers and juvenile justice stakeholders. Examples include a ‘wish-list of resources needed’ information board and a ‘mentorship’ board to attract youth mentors.
(4) Technology Training for Members of Youth and Family Service Agencies
Once MAGIC’s on-line resource has been designed and launched, technology training on using the website will be provided on-site to participating agencies. These trainings will provide agencies with training on how to use, access and contribute to MAGIC’s on-line resource center.
(5) Pooling Technology Resources
By allowing each agency to have access to MAGIC’s virtual resource center, agencies can pool their technology resources, instead of having to individually design, develop and produce their own web-based information sites. Many youth agencies in BVHP do not have their own websites --- by being able to access and utilize MAGIC’s virtual resource center, multiple agencies will benefit.
3. Project Specifics
Implementation Plan
The following implementation plan will be adopted to launch MAGIC’s on-line community resource center:
Date |
Activities |
Responsible Parties |
11-01-04 to 12-31-04
Phase One – Information Collection & Technology Assessment of Agencies |
Meet with agency directors, obtain agency information for website; determine each agencies technology needs. |
MAGIC’s IT Team Members and Executive Assistant |
12-1-04 to 12-31-04
Phase Two – Develop Web-Based Solution & Input Information |
Meetings with MAGIC’s IT team, Executive Assistant and web designer; Web designer creates proposed design, which is approved by MAGIC, and populates data fields with information collected from agencies. |
MAGIC’s Web Team |
1-1-05 to 1-31-05
Phase Three – Launch Website and Agency Training |
MAGIC launches resource center and provides training to agency personnel. |
MAGIC’s web designer and training instructor |
1-31-05 to 6-30-05
Phase Four – Community Outreach and Publicizing Resource Center support and participation |
MAGIC conducts extensive community outreach through media and literature distribution publicizing MAGIC’s Resource Center. |
MAGIC Outreach Team Members |
7-1-05 to 11-01-05
Phase Five – Evaluation of Resource Center and Modification Period. |
Conduct an evaluation of usefulness of Resource Center to service providers; make any necessary modifications based on feedback. |
MAGIC IT Team |
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