Those concerned with service strategies, access and communications
technology may be interested in the Stroke Prevention Initiative. 

Ontario and most of Canada, for that matter, has large areas which face
service and access challenges. One of our recent projects makes it easier
for someone seeking prevention services to see availability near their home.

The Ontario Prevent Clearinghouse, Stroke Prevention Initiative is
developing an information service
with a large web component and a traveling team. Their web site
www.preventstroke.ca includes one of the first integrations of geography and
community resources.  A user can literally see 'what's near my home/work?'.
Proximity searching uncovers community asset information addressing specific
risk factors.

Enter a postal code; select a risk factor; and decide how far you wish to
look. Resource records through locational map pins on the selected area.
Mouse over the pin to see a description. Click on it to go to the full
information.

Of course, with additional records, the application will provide dramatic
images of both well-serviced and under-serviced areas. The application
applies social and physical risk factors that are very familiar to health
promotion professionals and community leaders.

I invite you to conduct some searches. Think about how such features can be
extended to better address underserved populations. For example, it is
possible to layer socio-economic or service data on these images to
visualize relationships between populations and resources. Share your ideas.
We like a challenge.


__________________________________
A. Simon Mielniczuk - ITS Co-operative Inc.
416.828.2118 - [log in to unmask]
www.itscooperative.com

ITScooperative's community asset mapping
now live at prevenstroke.ca: 
http://www.preventstroke.ca/public/Program/SearchProgramsMapByRisk.aspx

...


-----Original Message-----
From: Roxanne Felix [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 1:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: broad strategies for underserved populations


Hello:

I'm interested in models that have been implemented to increase the
accessibility of prevention and screening programs to underserved
populations....

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