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With a professional identity grounded in the ‘Person-in-Environment’ framework, social workers are better equipped to understand the need to incorporate geographical aspects pertaining to where clients live or work as part of their practice, given that these factors have a significant influence on client well-being. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology aids professional social work practice by visually displaying contextual data through analytical maps and highlighting the interactions between human service program clients and their environments (Azzam & Robinson, 2013). This technology is useful for administrators and planners in order to make informed decisions regarding programs including deciding the geographic location of human service agencies, examining program outcomes and impact as well as streamlining program implementation. With a capability of engaging in visual map-based spatial analysis of social issues affecting individuals and families in various communities and neighborhoods, GIS is a relevant tool for social work practice, especially for identifying human service needs and advocating for resources. With GIS, social workers could employ cutting-edge techniques to ensure better practices at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. This presentation aims to provide a practical insight regarding the utility of GIS technology for real world human service applications. Specific examples include a) an asset mapping exercise for a non-profit that provides health, employment and education services to families, children and seniors living in low-income housing communities in California; b) a needs assessment project for examining the availability of substance abuse treatment facilities with services in Spanish in Los Angeles County (Guerrero, Pan, Curtis & Lizano, 2011); and c) an evaluation exercise for a low-income housing project in Los Angeles to understand community risks and assets for planning human service interventions. In all the examples, ArcGIS software was used to understand existing assets and identify gaps/needs within the client communities for program planning purposes.
Citation preview
Understanding Client Communities Spatially for
Developing Effective Interventions: Application
of Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S)
Technology for Human Services Delivery
Presented by:
Gokul Mandayam
2Mandayam
Why should Human Service Professionals engage in
Spatially Informed Social Work Practice?
NASW Code of Ethics
5.02 Evaluation and Research
(a) Social workers should monitor and evaluate
policies, the implementation of programs, and
practice interventions.
(b) Social workers should promote and facilitate
evaluation and research to contribute to the
development of knowledge.
(c) Social workers should critically examine and keep
current with emerging knowledge relevant to social
work and fully use evaluation and research
evidence in their professional practice.
History - Mapping and Human Services
3Mandayam
4Mandayam
Does Geography matter for the Human Services Profession?
“ As the concept of asset mapping continues to be considered seriously and incorporated
into the community development process, GIS as a newest approach for community
development is useful to identify assets which exist in each neighborhood .”
(Schlossberg, 1998)
“ Geographic Information Systems (GIS), can be used to assist evaluators in presenting the
results of their evaluations in a user-friendly way.”
(Renger et. al., 2002)
“ GIS can benefit social work by: (1) continuing and strengthening the social survey
tradition; (2) providing a framework for understanding human behavior; (3) identifying
community needs and assets; (4) improving the delivery of social services; and
(5) Empowering communities and traditionally disenfranchised groups.”
(Hillier, 2007)
“ As a tool, GIS enables evaluators to incorporate contextual features (such as accessibility of
program sites or community health needs) into evaluation designs and highlights the
interactions between programs and their environments.”
(Azzam & Robinson, 2013)
5Mandayam
Example 1: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
Computers for Families Program:
Jordan Downs Housing Project
South Los Angeles
Public Housing (military barricades)
2,600 total population
60% Hispanic; 40% African American
Median Family Income $1,400/month
3.1 children per household
703 apartment complex
Highest education – High school
Courtesy: Dr. Juan Araque and his research assistants
Example 1: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
6Mandayam
One- and two-mile
radius:
Health care systems
Social service
providers
Education facilities
Employment services
Courtesy: Dr. Juan Araque and his research assistants
7Mandayam
Example 1: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
One- and two-mile
radius:
Crime rates:
Assaults
Burglary
Robbery
Theft
Vehicle break in
Liquor stores
Courtesy: Dr. Juan Araque and his research assistants
8Mandayam
Latino
communities and
outpatient SUD
(Substance Use
Disorder)
treatment facilities
offering services
in Spanish in Los
Angeles County
Courtesy: Dr. Erick Guerrero and his research assistants
Example 2: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
9Mandayam
Latino population
and travel
distances to closest
outpatient SUD
treatment facility
offering services
in Spanish in L.A.
County by "hot
spot".
Courtesy: Dr. Erick Guerrero and his research assistants
Example 2: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
10Mandayam
Latino population
and travel
distances to closest
outpatient SUD
treatment facility
offering services
in Spanish in hot
spot C by census
tract.
Example 2: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
Courtesy: Dr. Erick Guerrero and his research assistants
• Partners w/ affordable housing developers• Residents at or below 50 % area median income• Operates Family/ Senior Resource Centers
Services Provided: Health: nutrition education, food programs,
screenings, wellness education, exercise programs Independent Living for Seniors: socialization,
transportation, wellness Education for Youth: After-school programs, field
trips,. Summer camp, enrichment, school readiness, teen leadership programs
Capacity Building for Adults: ESL, Employment Readiness,
Other: Community building, case management, information & referral
Example 3: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
12Mandayam
Project Access – Case Study – St. Josephs (Oakland, California)
Example 3: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
13Mandayam
Project Access – Case Study – Warwick Square (Santa Ana, California)
Example 3: Application of GIS Technology for Human Services Delivery
14Mandayam
Why Spatially Informed Human Service delivery?
1. Identification of existing assets (resources)
and risks for better contextual understanding
2. Strategic Planning
3. Advocacy
4. Information and Referral (Visual maps are
useful for clinicians)
5. Catalyst for Partnership
![arXiv:1805.02855v2 [cs.CV] 30 May 2018 · arXiv:1805.02855v2 [cs.CV] 30 May 2018 Our main assumption is that image tiles that are geographic neighbors (i.e. close spatially) should](https://img.dokumen.tips/doc/110x75/5f8af58b4139a26f057b6d1b/arxiv180502855v2-cscv-30-may-2018-arxiv180502855v2-cscv-30-may-2018-our.jpg)
