Mendocino County Resource Database

Information accessibility is an equity issue. Access to information about resources is also a social determinant of health and health equity. We have estimates and first hand knowledge that a significant proportion of people residing and/or working in Mendocino County do not have internet access or language access to the various resources that are produced as lists or as links on websites.

This database was requested by the Promotores de Salud from Nuestra Alianza de Willits. Their ability to serve their community was impeded by resource listings with defunct programs, non-working phone numbers, confusing websites to find correct contact information and not knowing ahead of time the requirements for completing applications when assisting community members’ linkage to services.

In conjunction with Healthy Mendocino, it was decided that because of the time intensity of calling agencies, finding someone that can and will assist with completing the information, Healthy Mendocino could support the database by offering it a “home” on the Healthy Mendocino website and granting access to selected agency representatives. Healthy Mendocino has also offered support with promoting the database when in contact with their networked agencies and with requests for an agency representative to complete the data entry on programs that they are involved with. 

The vision for how this database will be utilized:

• Commitment from agencies: First, it’s effectiveness is dependent on a commitment by agencies that updating of the database, updating  hard copies of their program descriptions and their own websites, is part of a job description of a funded position.

• Language options: In the short term, output language options will be English and Spanish, while additional languages could be available in the long term.  

• Searchable website: A technical person needs to be identified to link the database to a website platform (with bilingual and boolean search capabilities) to function as an online directory accessible to anyone with internet. Linking will keep updates live on the website. In the interim, important resources can be shared with community members by copying a row of information for outreach materials (e.g. flyers, handouts, pamphlets, emails, social media posts, etc.)

• Printed Directories : Ultimately, there would be funding to annually update printing of the directory (in both English and Spanish) for selected and accessible locations such as Health Centers, Schools, Family Resource Centers, Libraries, Senior Centers, Granges, and other key community-based sites.