2024 SAG Award Winners

Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health & Human Services

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Project Goal

The Office of Community Services (OCS) GIS team is leveraging GIS technology to refine the delivery of social services, with a particular focus on combating poverty and assisting families of low income. Central to their strategic approach are the OCS Flexibilities Hub and the LIHEAP and Extreme Heat Dashboard, along with pivotal data dashboards for CSBG, LIHEAP, RCD, and LIHWAP. These resources are instrumental in providing critical, accessible insights. The Flexibilities Hub provides comprehensive resources on disaster preparedness, emphasizing the adaptability inherent in OCS’s block grant programs. Notably, the LIHEAP and Extreme Heat Dashboard highlights the adverse effects of extreme heat and delineates LIHEAP’s role in offering cooling assistance. Collectively, these tools ensure the availability of essential data to both partners and the vulnerable populations they serve, thereby enhancing OCS’s mission to improve community well-being through informed and transparent support
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Business Problem Solved

The OCS GIS initiatives tackle the challenge of connecting low-income families with essential services. Previously, accessing up-to-date information and locating relevant services were major hurdles, limiting service impact. By leveraging GIS technology, OCS enhances service accessibility and decision-making. The dashboards provide a visual representation of service locations and data, making it easier for stakeholders to identify service gaps and for families to find needed support based on their location. This approach streamlines access to services, ensuring resources are directed efficiently and increasing the programs' reach and effectiveness in improving community well-being.

Technology Implemented

ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online (Dashboards, Experience Builder, Maps, Survey123, StoryMaps, WebApps)

Development Team Biography

• Dr. Lanikque Howard is the director in the Office of Community Services. She provides leadership and oversight of over $12B annually in mandatory and discretionary grants through a multitude of social service and community development program.
• Janelle George is the deputy director at OCS. She provides oversight in the areas of program operations, budget, human resources, and procurement, and is responsible for strengthening the administrative and management capacity of all OCS Divisions.
• Boitumelo Sevilla is the Lead GIS Specialist at OCS, specializing in data visualization, application design, and mapping. She holds a Master's in GIS from UMD and is currently pursuing a Master's in Geodesign. Her expertise has led to improved project outcomes at ACF/OCS.