NOC Background.doc

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Network of Care Background

Many quality social services are available to residents of Texas communities,

however, due to the fragmented way many programs are funded, there is all too

often little coordination among programs. Accessing services effectively and on

a timely basis can be an extremely difficult task for the general public.

Many of the problems associated with the fragmentation of services are

information issues. Not only are consumers in the dark about available services,

but often the agencies themselves don't know all of the services available for

their clients because no information system has connected agencies to each

other. Furthermore, the general public is largely unaware of important related

information on topics such as specific disorders, early intervention,

prevention, independent living, and advocacy.

The corporate community has for some time now been addressing similar

information problems using a variety of Internet solutions. Until now, Web

technology has been scarce in diverse, fragmented public systems such as those

serving the elderly, people with disabilities, kids at risk, and specifically,

people with mental illness. A revolution, though, is taking place in the

public's use of the Internet. Today, an astonishing 60 percent of the public

uses the Internet as its primary source of health information - and the number

is growing. A way to connect the vast, extensive, easily accessible, nearly

universal phenomenon of the Internet to the health and social service needs of

the local community is sorely needed.

Trilogy bridged this gap. The Network of Care Web Project is a state/county,

public/private partnership that was born of a State of California innovation

grant in early 2001. Network of Care (www.networkofcare.org) is a single place

for consumers, caregivers and case managers to gain knowledge; quickly find and

coordinate community services; store important information, and advocate to

policymakers.

Trilogy Integrated Resources worked with Alameda and Sacramento counties in

California to launch the Network of Care for Seniors and People with

Disabilities in August 2001, and since then, the sites have rapidly expanded.

The huge success of this project at the county level has led to requests from

the State of California and several of its counties to develop similar Web sites

for behavioral health, children at risk, domestic abuse and substance abuse. The

California Department of Mental Health sought to replicate the highly successful

Network of Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities with a similar online

community for behavioral health services. It chose San Diego County as its

inaugural site. This successful website in coming to Texas, thanks to the Center

for Health Care Services. Bexar County will be the first county in Texas to

launch this successful website through Trilogy Integrated Resources.

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