About Worcester community information website
Community Resources Information, Inc. (CRI) is currently developing
a community information website (www.WorcesterResources.org)
for the city of Worcester and surrounding communities that provides
comprehensive information across a wide variety of areas on
programs, resources, and benefits that address the needs of
low-income individuals and families. The intent of our community
information website is to make the often complex social service
system more transparent and accessible to individuals, providing
clear answers to commonly asked questions, and directing residents
of Worcester to relevant and available sources of support.
For each benefit or program that is described on the Worcester
community information website, we cover the following: 1)
what the benefit/program entails; 2) eligibility criteria; 3)
practical information on how and where to apply; 4) benefit levels
/ availability; and 4) consumer rights and responsibilities. The
content is being written in English and will eventually be translated
into Spanish as well. Information on the website is routinely
updated to stay current with changes in programs and benefits
as well as their availability.
The importance of a community information
website
CRI believes that a compelling case can be made as
to the need, in several cities across the country, for a community
information website that serves as a centralized
source for information on the vital resources and benefit
programs available to low and moderate income families
and individuals. By using our community information website
to obtain the information and application forms it has
to offer, consumers of services will be more able to act for
themselves. They will also be better prepared to work effectively
with the limited number of service and benefit providers who
can help them secure needed resources.
The purpose of a community information website
A community
information website can by no means replace an individual
who helps link people in need to appropriate benefits and programs.
However our community information website can facilitate
these efforts, by helping consumers become more empowered, and
serving as a central repository of information on community resources
relevant to the needs of low and moderate-income residents.
Service providers and case managers, in turn, may find that their
use of the community information website helps them to be more
productive as they can go to one location to obtain regularly
updated information on a myriad of services and programs, thereby
reducing the amount of time spent tracking down information to
help their clients.
In fact CRI expects the first people to begin
using our community information website
to be service providers, followed by the consumers
of the benefits, programs, and services described on the
website.
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