Technology Solutions for Human Services

Technology Solutions for Human Services

Heather Matherly

BSHS/351

January 9, 2013

Robert Vaughan

Technology Solution for Human Services

Technology Solutions for Human Services Often times human service organizations encounter barriers; three barriers organizations face include, but are not limited to, lack of mobile resources for clients to and from appointments, effective record keeping for clients, and ensuring that every client is reached, regardless of living situation. In order to overcome these barriers I will provide you with examples of specific technologies that may help. The nonprofit organization my mother works for is Christie School/Youth Village, a nonprofit organization located in Lake Oswego in the state of Oregon. "The mission of Christie School/Youth Village, which was founded in 1885 by nuns that assisted those traveling the Oregon Trail, they believe in helping children and families live successfully (Youth Village, 2011).

Youth village achieves its mission by offering the families help, and by providing troubled teens in the community a home, where they learn the complete programs, basic education, and self-sufficient essentials in surviving mundane things. Technology plays a big part in youth village and is relied heavily upon as it organizes the many offices this organization. Bateman believed that, "companies today cannot succeed without incorporating the technology that exists today, a technology that continues to evolve" (2007). What has technology done for Youth Village and organizations like them, today? Technology has given them a gateway to a more productive and organized organization.

Youth Village is a non-profit organization, an organization that depends greatly on grants. Each grant is held in a separate account to ensure the money is spent on what was proposed. Software is used to record budgeting, accounting, and online banking. Youth Village likes to keep everyone on the same page; technology has enabled Youth Village to be effective, efficient, and more financially organized. Youth Village has a main campus in Lake Oswego Oregon and two other campuses along the Clackamas River, Mosaic and (Blank). Youth Village management and human resources department use technology to organize meetings, communicate, and plan events. Among the many individuals involved are the human service workers that ensure daily emails are collected and responded to, issues are brought to the managers attention immediately.

Often times Youth Village management will send out memos, meeting notes, and concerns to keep all staff on the same page. Technology is imperative to an organizations communication; it also enables Youth Village to share ideas, fears, concerns, complaints, ideas, and so on. Technology, a tool used to organize meetings, schedule appointments, oversee volunteers,