Online Community Documentation and Support System

History

Since 1990, the KU Work Group for Community Health and Development has evaluated and supported local, state and national initiatives to promote community health and development. Based on this participatory research experience, we built an Online Documentation and Support System (ODSS). The ODSS helps communities better understand and improve their efforts to promote community health and development.

We have developed customized documentation and support systems with a number of communities, foundations, and government agencies. Clients or initiatives include efforts to prevent substance abuse or youth violence and to promote healthy living and community development. This documentation and evaluation system has helped support change efforts of dozens of local, national, and global partners.

 

 

Description

The Online Documentation and Support System is a web-based recording, measurement, and reporting tool for community work. It helps practitioners document their work, including bringing about community and systems change (defined as new or modified programs, policies, or practices related to the group’s goals). The ODSS also helps practitioners share their change efforts and success stories with funders and other stakeholders. More fundamentally, the ODSS serves as tool to help communities better understand and improve their efforts.

The ODSS helps community and research partners to answer questions such as:

  • What are we accomplishing?
  • Are we bringing about changes in communities and systems?
  • What factors or processes enhance our change efforts?
  • How are community/system changes contributing to improvement in community-level outcomes?
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    The Online Documentation and Support System (ODSS) includes supports for: a) Documenting changes in communities and systems (e.g., new or modified programs and policies related to the effort); b) Analyzing the distribution of changes, for instance by goal addressed; c) Uncovering factors associated with increases/ decreases in the rate of change; d) Tracking changes in community-level indicators (e.g., rates of childhood immunizations);  and e) Online and print graphs about the initiative and its impact. 


     

    Some Features of the Online Documentation and Support System (ODSS):

  • Integrated resources for evaluation, technical support, and co-learning
  • Customized measures and analyses for documentation and feedback
  • Same system can meet the evaluation needs of multiple audiences
  • Promotes community participation and direct access to their evaluation information
  • Allows for instant feedback and real-time graphs
  • Information on accomplishments can be used to secure resources and assure accountability
  • Encourages participatory evaluation and co-learning among partners
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    Linked to the Community WorkStation and the Community Tool Box, the Online Documentation and Support System helps build community capacity by:

  • Connecting users to practical information on how to do community work, including:
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    • Creating and Maintaining Coalitions and Partnerships
    • Assessing Community Needs and Resources
    • Analyzing Problems and Goals
    • Developing a Framework or Model of Change
    • Developing Strategic and Action Plans
    • Building Leadership
    • Developing an Intervention
    • Increasing Participation and Membership
    • Enhancing Cultural Competence
    • Advocating for Change
    • Influencing Policy Development
    • Evaluating the Initiative
    • Implementing a Social Marketing Effort
    • Writing a Grant Application for Funding
    • Improving Organizational Management and Development
    • Sustaining the Work or Initiative
  • Providing tailored links to online support tools for building healthy communities (e.g., strategic planning, community leadership, advocacy, community evaluation, getting grants)
  • Providing users with expertise and technical assistance from experienced community practitioners through learning communities and “Ask and Advisor.”
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    Some Recommendations for Evaluating and Supporting Collaborative Efforts to Promote Community Health

    For more information about obtaining an Online Documentation and Support System and related technical support, or a license to use the ODSS to support your customer base, please contact Christina Holt at the KU Work Group at (785) 864-0533.

     

     

    Related Information

    More Information

    For more information
    KU Work Group
    Phone (785) 864-0533
    Fax (785) 864-5281
    http://communityhealth.ku.edu