Information Commons
Executive Summary
3rc has embraced the ambitious mission of creating an “Information Commons” for southwestern Pennsylvania. By providing a flexible way to seamlessly combine data from many facets of our region, the Commons is emerging as a powerful information resource and community planning tool. It will help individuals and organizations understand the issues affecting our community and the resources focused on meeting needs in ways that go far beyond Google and other current web sites. As a “community” of individuals and organizations, we will be able to share information, collaborate more easily, and have access to the crucial facts we need to make the best possible decisions on how to invest our resources and deliver services.
The Commons leverages innovative technology from Pittsburgh based MAYA Design that will allow people and organizations to access and utilize information in new ways to improve the quality of life in our region.
Information about the forces affecting children, families and neighborhoods is currently fragmented in “silos” of data that make it very hard for regional agencies to work together to serve our community. By delivering a more cohesive information delivery platform, area organizations will be able to more creatively leverage actionable knowledge to solve problems for the community. The benefits include the ability to:
As an example, 3rc is currently working with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS), A+ Schools and the United Way of Allegheny County to share their provider databases. This will increase the accuracy and coverage of services while reducing the redundancy of many agencies trying to manage the same information. From DHS caseworkers who will be able to save time and enhance the quality of their care plans to social workers in after school programs who will now have real time access to public school attendance and performance records, community organizations will be able to more easily share information and collaborate to meet the needs of the children and families they serve.
Our goal is to work with existing community partners to amass important data and indicators, make that information intersect through various tailored Internet interfaces, and generally improve the quality of life by helping area agencies to more effectively deliver services where needed.
Also, please visit MAYA Design to learn more about their involvement in the development of the Information Commons.