Community social services

Community Resources Information, Inc. (CRI) is a non-profit, tax exempt 501 c (3) charitable organization whose principal mission is to develop and maintain community social services Internet web sites which provide comprehensive information on the resources and community social services relevant to the needs of low and moderate income families and individuals of all ages. The web sites are designed to serve as a central repository of information on community social services and benefit programs. Our intent is to make the process of finding out about and obtaining community social services much easier and more coherent than is now the case. By using our websites consumers community social services will be able to become more informed about the process applying for benefits by obtain the information about the process and sample application forms.

Features of our community social services web sites

For each community social services program that is described on the web site, 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.
5. Consumer rights and responsibilities.

Our community social services web sites has three important technological features:

• Sample application forms for benefit programs that can be downloaded and printed out. This feature is intended to help inform consumer about information will be required when they apply for benefits.
• Eligibility checks for various benefit programs (e.g., food stamps, TAFDC, Section 8 housing). This feature enables a user to enter information in order to determine potential eligibility for a particular benefit. The eligibility check evaluates the information provided and makes an unofficial determination, either indicating the individual/family appears to be eligible (and providing the benefit amount) or stating the person does not appear eligible and listing the reason(s) why.
• A "comments/feedback interface" allows users to give us feedback on ways to improve the web site. This feature will also be used to ask individuals to share their knowledge in applying for benefits and their experience with community programs so that other, would-be, consumers might learn from this information.

A prototype community social services website

A prototype community social services web site is currently being developed for Worcester, Massachusetts (www.WorcesterResources.org), the third largest city in New England. In the near future, Community Resources Information, Inc. expects to develop similar web sites in other communities across the country. Each community social service web site will be tailored to a specific community and will provide in-depth coverage of a variety of community social services available in that community. Community Resources Information, Inc. expects the first users to adopt such a web site within a community to be service providers, followed by the consumers of the benefits, programs, and services described on the web site, once issues of accessibility have been addressed.