IBM is kicking off an $18 million grant program to put no-cost cloud hosting, customizable software, and consulting services into the hands of not-for-profit social service agencies that qualify.
Called IBM SafetyNet, the software can help not-for-profits -- such as those that provide services related to behavioral health, child welfare, after school recreation, job training and senior citizen needs -- evaluate and document the success of their programs more effectively. The record keeping and analysis that can be performed with IBM SafetyNet can improve budgetary accountability, lead decision makers to design better programs, and enable staff to spend more time helping clients instead of performing paperwork. Data analysis offered by the software also enables social service providers to pinpoint and address gaps in their client service.
Documenting their programs' success is a prerequisite for continued funding from government and private sources, which sometimes contract with not-for-profits sector to provide social services. (Local governments in the U.S. spend $136 billion annually to fund such social service programs, according to The Urban Institute.) Yet, analyzing information can be a time-consuming and expensive task for many organizations, particularly small agencies with limited staff. IBM SafetyNet can help the contracting agencies, and the local government departments funding those agencies, collaborate more efficiently.
Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House in New York City, a not-for-profit that tested IBM SafetyNet, reported that the technology had the potential to enable the organization to spend approximately 30% more time with clients. Said Christopher Hanway, Executive Director of Jacob A. Riis: "When we helped test the technology, IBM SafetyNet provided the hub of our information gathering, reporting, and program evaluation protocol. We became better equipped to respond to data requests in a timelier manner with more accurate data. It was very helpful in the reporting back and managing of government contracts. We've also used the software successfully to figure out how we can serve clients better, whether it's fine tuning a senior citizens program, or afterschool tutoring for high school students."
IBM SafetyNet was deployed as part of a pilot testing program to a handful of New York City nonprofit social service organizations called "settlement houses." These agencies have existed for more than 100 years and typically provide a gamut of services to entire families. In the U.S., these organizations historically specialized in education and workplace assistance to socially and economically challenged immigrants, but their mission has expanded to disadvantaged families of all types.
To develop SafetyNet, IBM collaborated with United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), an association of New York City settlement houses. UNH is piloting SafetyNet at least four of its affiliates, includingHudson Guild, a settlement house serving low-income communities in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. The Guild's programs include early childhood, after school and summer camp, teen and young adult services, a senior center, a mental health clinic, and performing and visual arts programs. Hudson Guild is testing SafetyNet to analyze results of the free test preparation that it provided to students taking the NYC Specialized High School exam.
To view a brief video in which Hudson Guild shares its experience with IBM SafetyNet, please go here.
IBM SafetyNet was developed expressly for this grant program. It uses a combination of open source technology and software from IBM Curam, whose commercial products are designed to improve the productivity of organizations involved in social services, including healthcare, pensions, and disability. It is hosted in IBM's cloud, better protecting information than if it were stored on a PC, and making it more easily accessible to staff wherever they happen to be.
"IBM has a vested interest in ensuring prosperity, education and well being in the communities in which IBM employees live and work," said Stanley S. Litow, President of IBM's International Foundation. "To help bring that about, IBM offers Impact Grants of pro bono conulting services and technology to communities. For those projects, IBMers work with civic, social and economic organizations in public-private partnerships. IBM SafetyNet is consistent with that mission and is the latest grant program in IBM's corporate citizenship portfolio."
Through October 31, interested organizations can apply for the technology and installation support by going to www.ibmsafetynet.org. IBM will evaluate a variety of criteria when choosing grant recipients. Evaluation criteria include demonstrated commitment; staff that can help manage the technology's deployment; and ability and willingness to analyze data.
With a value of approximately $300,000 for each installation, IBM is prepared to make 12 grants annually over five years for a total market value of at least $18 million.
For more information about IBM's corporate citizenship initiatives, please go here. Please visit the CitizenIBM blog for additional perspectives on IBM's philanthropic initiatives, and follow CitizenIBM on Twitter.
More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.
TRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now! Request Now.
Forms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.
Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:
Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.
IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn:
LATEST COMMENTS
MC Press Online