 |
Further Information
Profiles of Available Tracking
Systems
Access
Microsoft Access, also known as Access or MS Access, is
one of the most “user-friendly” database management systems
on the market today. Regular users of Microsoft products
will find the system familiar and easy to navigate. One
reason for Access’s popularity is its ability to generate
forms, data tables, and reports with one software package.
Jobs-Plus, an employment program that operates in six
public housing developments in cities around the country,
uses a client tracking system built with Access. Designed
by an outside consultant, People Works, the Jobs-Plus
tracking system was customized to track and report information
about housing, family composition, program participation,
job placement, retention, support services and benefits
for each Jobs-Plus participant.
Lotus Notes
Lotus Notes is an e-mail and
contact management system that creates databases and
solves specific data storage needs. The Moving Up Program
in South Carolina developed a Lotus Notes tracking system,
called ERACTS, in order to track employment retention
and client participation. Each Moving Up career consultant
is provided with a laptop computer, loaded with the
software, and a portable printer. Customized by a technology
consultant, ERACTS stores client contact and participation
information, integrates the data stored with electronic
mail, allows remote and mobile users to access the system,
and can produce reports and export the information to
spreadsheets and other databases for viewing.
Programs and Organizations
CompuMentor: A San Francisco-based nonprofit, this
organization provides other nonprofits and public schools
consulting services and assistance with short-term technology
projects and development of computer technology centers.
CompuMentor is one of the nation’s largest and oldest
non-profit technology assistance agencies. www.compumentor.org
TechSoup: Affiliated with CompuMentor, TechSoup
offers technology resources, discounts, and recommendations
to nonprofits. www.techsoup.org
Benton Foundation: This nonprofit organization
features a “best practice toolkit” and resources to help
other nonprofits improve their use communications technologies.
www.benton.org
IT Resource Center: A Chicago-based organization,
IT Resource Center provides on-line resources for nonprofits
in the areas of philanthropy, fundraising, management,
and technology. The organization’s web site features
on-line publications and newsgroups. www.npo.net
TechRocks: Formerly known as the Technology Project,
this organization builds technological capacity for community
collaboration and citizen engagement. The web site offers
ebaseTM, free software that enables nonprofit
organizations to manage their relationships with their
members, donors, activists and volunteers. www.techrocks.org
The National Urban Technology Center: Dedicated
to preparing community organizations for full participation
in the Information Age, the Center’s website is a good
source of information on a variety of technology projects
that can be locally replicated. www.urbantech.org
CNET: One of the most popular software sites on
the Web, it features thousands of applications for free
or at a low charge on a shareware basis. Also features
software and hardware reviews, Internet-related technology
primers, industry news, and much more. www.cnet.com
|
|
|
^ Back to top |
|
|
No. 8, March 2002
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
John Padilla
is Vice President of New Paradigms Consulting, a consulting
firm in New Haven, Connecticut, specializing in com-munity
development, organizational development and workforce
issues. John provides technical assistance and consulting
services to nonprofit organiza-tions, foundations, state
and local government, with particular emphasis in workforce
develop-ment strategy and program design, and applying
computer technology and business process analysis to organizations
seeking to improve organizational performance. John’s
background includes twenty years of private sector experience
in high technology industries.
Julie Filbrun
works as a Research Associate in MDRC's Research Technology
Unit. A graduate of Duke University, where she earned
her degree in Public Policy in 1997, Julie develops applica-tions
and researches new technologies to improve data manage-ment
and report pro-duction efficiency at MDRC. She also trains
and supports MDRC programmers. Prior to joining MDRC in
1999, Julie was an information technology consultant for
Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
|
|
|
|
