The Right Service at the Right Time, the latest DrupalEasy launch, harnesses the function of several contributed and a few custom modules to create a one-stop online shop that connects struggling Orange County, Florida residents directly to the government and social services they need. The Orlando-based Orange County Library System (OCLS) which contracted with DrupalEasy to develop the site, is going all out to promote the program, and is getting great feedback already.

With the launch of The Right Service at the Right Time, people across Central Florida can take advantage of the full range of resources available to them, all from their home computers or those provided in libraries throughout the county.  Before the new site, those without Internet access would have to travel from one government office to the next to access assistance from the various agencies.  

"No one should have to suffer through foreclosure and unemployment, only to find themselves trapped in a web of bureaucracy," said James Tyson, President of the Library Board of Trustees. The Library System secured a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services of the Florida Department of State, State Library and Archives of Florida to fund development of the site.

The design really relied on knowing the diverse audience it would serve. Users who speak English, Spanish or Creole can learn what government aid they might qualify for by answering an evolving list of questions and then are able to apply online. They don't even need library cards to access the service, which connects them to government services as well as programs offered by nonprofits in the region.

We utilized the Views, Flag, Webform, and a number of custom modules to build the necessary functionality in an extremely easy-to-use way. A custom theme was developed to make the search process as easy as possible for the widest range of users to understand. The process of searching for available services requires the user to select the type of services they're looking for, then selecting easy-to-understand options like "I'm a Florida resident" before viewing a list of matching services. 

For us at DrupalEasy, one of the most exciting parts of the project is seeing our work promoted on city buses! It was also gratifying to be part of a very public launch of the site, which was covered by local press, including the Orlando Sentinel, which wrote:

You don't need to have a library card to use the service, and the system itself doesn't record any personal information, such as Social Security numbers.

 

Early reviews have been favorable. "It's very simple, very well done, very well thought through," said Pastor Scott George, co-founder of the Community Food & Outreach Center in Orlando, a charity that helps thousands of struggling families each month.

 

"I went to a demonstration, and I have to say it's a great tool. When someone is at the point where they desperately need help, they're already emotionally drained," said George. "The last thing they need is more frustration."

 

Brent Trotter, CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, calls the new service "indispensible" in the wake of a trend by both government welfare programs and employers to move their application processes online. "For those who are technologically illiterate, this is absolutely critical."

OCLS created the following short video highlighting some of the site's functionality: