From: Patty McKenna [mailto:outer.banks.collaborative@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2012 9:06 AM
To: obxmommyandme@gmail.com; Alyson Belvin; Alyssa Hannon; Amberly Dyer; Amy Montgomery; Sonnesso, Angelo; Ann Groves; info@obcf.org; Bob Muller; Bonnie Bennett; Bonnie Drewry; Brandi Rheubottom; Carl Curnutte; Carolyn J. Self; Chris Kelley; Christina Pena-Jones; Chuck Poe; Colleen Zoubek; Denise Swain; Dennis Carroll; Dianne Denny; Dick and/or Jane Welch; Dr. Richard J. Martin; Elisabeth Piff; Gail Leonard; Gail Sonnesso; Jenniffer Albanese; Jim and Anne Davis; Jim Harrison; Jim MacDonald; Stiles, Jim; Jonathan P. Wark; Joni Brady; Kim Martin; Laura Heitsenrether; Laura Willingham; Leigh Bracy; Loismary Hoehne; Lorna Ernst; Lynn Bryant; Lynn Hartshorne; Marie Neilson; Marsha Riibner-Cady; Mary Betse Kelly; Mary Ellen Hawthorne; Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy; Michelle Decker; Nancy Proctor; Nena Teller; Patty McKenna; Peggy Birkemeier; Renate Macchirole; Rhonda Morris; Rick Gray; Robin Ames; Robin Hearne RN MS; Robin Winnett; Roxana Ballinger; Samantha Iulo; Sarah A. Massey; Shelli Gates; Stuart Bell; Susan Hoskins; SScurria@albemarlecommission.org; Susan West; Tanya Barkley-Graham; Tess Judge; Tracey Rock; Tracy Bell
Subject: wrap-up from last week's Collaborative meeting
Hello,
For those who were unable to attend, a brief re-cap of last week’s Collaborative meeting follows.
The next Collaborative meeting will be held on Hatteras Island along with the HI Community Task Force, date to be determined in the new year.
You’ll find attached to this email an nc211 logo that can be placed on your website with a link to the searchable database. This is great way to help those who visit your website connect to other services and was suggested at the meeting as a way to generate more awareness in Dare of the 2-1-1 service.
Thank you for all the good work you do in our community and have a merry Christmas.
Patty
MEETING NOTES
2-1-1 Assessment
- During a demonstration of the search function on nc211.org, I got lots of constructive suggestions for improving how programs are coded so that they are more likely to be found.
- We discussed enhancing the database by adding providers who are not typical “nonprofits” but are valuable community resources, such as Dr. Claypool’s office.
- Ideas for increasing 2-1-1 awareness were brainstormed, including placing 2-1-1 table tents at banks (relevant for financial counseling services) and at the internet café in K-mart; conducting “Demo Days” at various locations (Baum Center, Dare Center, Dare branches of East Albemarle Regional Library); and pursuing a county proclamation of February 11 as 2-1-1 Day in Dare.
Google Analytics on nc211.org Kelly Nettnin of the health department suggested using Google analytics to assess and improve the user experience on the 2-1-1 website. I found a link to the 2011 Google analytics for nc211.org, published on the nc211 website (http://www.unitedwaync.org/sites/unitedwaync.org/files/Google%20Analytics%20Annual%20Report%202011.pdf ). So it is reassuring to me that the developers of the website are assessing and striving to improve the user experience at nc211.org.
Highlights:
- there were 63,765 unique visitors to nc211.org in 2011
- there were 496,420 pageviews; that’s an average of 6.04 pageviews per site visitor
- the average time a viewer spent on the site was 3 minutes, 43 seconds
- the bounce rate was 47.78%. It is my understanding that his means that 47.78 % of visitors leave nc211.org without viewing any other pages on the site (in this case, without doing a search). One way to look at this statistic is that the landing page directed viewers to the phone to call 2-1-1 after viewing the landing page.
Info Sharing
- Lorna Ernst would like to spread the word that, as the Beach Food Pantry moves to its (at least 5-yr) home in Kitty Hawk, there will be no interruption of service and they will be back to distributing refrigerated items. Gift cards donations instead of food donations are preferable right now during this transition time.
- Nancy Proctor discussed the latest enhancements planned for obxcommongood.org (which has approximately 2,400 subscribers and is marking its 5-year anniversary!). They include working with Outer Banks groups that populate calendars (such as Outer Banks Child and the Children & Youth Partnership) to improve information sharing and reduce redundancy; linking directly to some calendars such as the Dare County Extension; and substantial enhancements to her website’s volunteer listing and matching features. Stay tuned!
- Jim Harrison from Recovery Innovations (which serves 19 counties in the East Carolina Behavioral Health catchment area by providing assistance for those struggling with mental health, addiction, and substance abuse issues) announced a that meetings are taking place at New Horizons, the Dare County Library in Manteo and on Hatteras Island. Contact jim.harrison@recoveryinnovations.org for more details.
- Renate Macchirole, who works on community inclusion programs in 6 counties for Monarch, is seeking volunteers to offer technology assistance. She is the coordinator for our local Special Olympics, which will now be training older Special Olympics athletes to mentor younger athletes. She is also working on Project Unify in which typical athletes from Dare County Schools are paired with Special Olympics athletes. She’d love to organize a softball league. Coming to the College of the Albemarle soon, post-secondary education for people with intellectual challenges. See www.cidd.unc.edu/psea for more information. Renate clearly has no lack of great ideas and welcomes partners in any of these efforts.
- According to Gail Sonnesso of The GEM Center, during the month of November--National Alzheimer Month--15 people in our area were screened for memory issues and 5 needed further evaluation. In addition, a candle-lighting service with poetry, music and prayer was held to commemorate the month. A “Caring Effectively” class will be held at COA, and Gail is available to present “60 minutes to a better understanding of dementia” to any groups who are interested.
- Carolyn Self of the Greater Albemarle Area Chapter of the Red Cross will begin fine-tuning her disaster response program, incorporating lessons from recent experiences. And speaking of recent experiences, her chapter sent volunteers up to NY after Sandy. They also came to the aid of survivors of the recent HMS Bounty sinking. That response has inspired a new agreement between U.S. Coast Guard and the American Red Cross. Congratulations to Carolyn and your volunteers.
- We were pleased to meet Bobby from East Carolina Behavioral Health who let us know about Community Forums in December focused on programs for folks with intellectual disabilities. The forum is web-based so you can log-in at home. See the calendar at http://www.ecbhlme.org for a host of educational opportunities.
- Marsha Riibner-Cady who runs the After School Enrichment Program would love to engage some volunteers to help students with their homework (between the hours of 2:30 or so and 6:00 pm). In addition, there are students who would really benefit from attending the ASEP but who cannot afford it. Thus, a source of scholarship assistance is being sought.
--
Patty McKenna
Coordinator, Community Services Collaborative
a program of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation
The Community Services Collaborative is a group of representatives of Outer Banks human services providers and community benefit groups that meets quarterly to network and to pursue cooperative efforts that strengthen our community.
PO Box 545 / 103 East Eighth Street
Nags Head, NC 27959
252/255-0530 (direct) 252/261-2004 (office) outerbankscollaborative@gmail.com http://www.facebook.com/Dare211 https://twitter.com/DareCounty211
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized State official. Unauthorized disclosure of juvenile, health, legally privileged, or otherwise confidential information, including confidential information relating to an ongoing State procurement effort, is prohibited by law. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete all records of this e-mail.
