Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard: An Empirical Window into Homelessness

Transcription

1 : An Empirical Window into Homelessness

2 Learning Objectives Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Attendes will Learn options and strategies to address the challenges and complexities inherent in the collaborative community development and deployment of dashboards on homelessness to report demographics and service delivery outcomes. Gain an increased understanding of the functionality and utility of a community dashboard on homelessness. Learn the fundamentals of the processes by which we capture, summarize, and represent demographic and service delivery information in the interactive community dashboard.

3 Knoxville Community Dashboard on Homelessness Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Go to knoxhmis.org and click on Community Dashboard

4 How did we get here? What conditions enabled us to create this Community Dashboard? Well we are glad you asked Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard The UT College of Social Work s long history of community collaboration on addressing homelessness.. SWORPS- Social Work Office of Research and Public Service University of Tennessee s commitment to community outreach and engagement Our Community Partners & an early decision for an open system Faculty expertise in data analysis and research KnoxHMIS is the only university operated HMIS

5 COMMUNITY CONTEXT

6 CoC Context: Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard

7 How Our CoC is Organized: Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Continuum of Care Governing Body HMIS Lead Continuum of Care Lead

8 PLANNING

9 Our Vision: Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Increase info for decision making & community awareness Create a data driven culture Increase accountability Improve transparency among partners

10 Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Pre-Planning: How to Lay the Groundwork for a Dashboard Getting Started Network Form meaningful relationships with key players (i.e. funders) Try multiple funding streams (Private, Business Districts, United Way, etc.) Discuss Data Often Make data a regular part of the conversation Cite data at every stakeholder meeting Show Examples Show what other innovative communities are doing

11 Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Process: Timeline and Development Stages March 15 April July/Sept Oct/Dec Jan/Feb 16 March

12 select? Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Key Decisions: What model will we What are our colleagues doing? Just Google it! We looked for easy to read graphics We considered average time on a site, placement of outcomes on the page, accessible language for multiple audiences We met with the experts Brevity (How can we quickly, concisely communicate info?)

13 Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Key Decisions: What outcomes will be included? We looked at What do we report on the most? What do we already do {i.e. AHAR, HIC, PIT, APR, DQRs, grant requests}? What is in our City s Plan to Address Homelessness? What is coming down the pike from HUD re: SPMs? What is anticipated with our State Interagency Council on Homelessness Plan?

14 Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Key Decisions: What benchmarks will be included? What are the HEARTH ACT high performing community standards? What are other HUD standards? What are HUD system Performance Measures expectations? What are our colleagues commonly using?

15 Who are key decision makers to include? How can we get agency buy in? How can we create a sustainable product? Developing and Deploying an Interactive Community Dashboard Key Decisions: What are other considerations?

16 DESIGN

17 Targeted Design The first step in design is to understand your target audience. Allows effort to be concentrated into areas deemed high value by target audience. Message can be more effective and site narrative is more easily developed. Targeted users are more likely to feel engaged, and more likely to return. 1. Who are they? 2. What language do they use? 3. What do they want?

18 User Interface Material Design or Flat Design Flat Design Benefits: Focuses on colors, shapes, and icons. Meaning can be easily defined. Simplistic design allows user to quickly navigate site content. Easily adaptable to different browsers and devices.

19 User Interface Material Design or Flat Design Flat Design Cons: Some visual cues can be difficult to convey, such as buttons or links. Design constraints are stricter, with fewer options for conveying meaning. Feels foreign to users less experienced with technology in general.

20 User Interface Material Design or Flat Design Material Design: Combines flat and skeuomorphic elements. Provides clean, but familiar interface. Similarities with real world objects means more comfort for those with less tech experience. Additional means for conveying information: Movement and distance.

21 Data Density Balancing Data and Design More data allows for a more complete story when used correctly, but can cloud and cover important context when designed poorly. Data Presentation Visualizations (Charts, Graphs, Contextual Separation) Filtered Data with Simple Navigation Consistent method for providing additional information. Font size and weight to highlight key data elements.

22 DEVELOPMENT

23 Data Source Data is pulled from a centralized repository using a combination of HUDdefined and custom reports. A third-party application bundled with the HMIS software allows access and reporting on stored data. Data is sourced from 6 distinct reports. Reports are exported into a CSV format to be interpreted by the dashboard s scripts. Reports include a detail table allowing easy review and confirmation.

24 Front-End The dashboard uses a number of technologies to handle the display and creation of site elements. Layout Text Building Blocks Formatting Presentation Bootstrap Interactivity Automation JQuery

25 Back-End The majority of the data processing for the visualizations and other page elements are handled with JS scripts. Converting CSV to Variable function readcsv(source, row, key) { jquery.ajaxsetup({async:false}); var csv; $.get( source, function(data) {csv = data;}); jquery.ajaxsetup({async:true}); var converted = $.csv.toobjects(csv); return converted[row][key]; }

26 Maintenance Depending on the level of data access, maintenance of a dashboard can become a considerable time investment. Direct DB link allows direct querying, and real-time updates, but can present a higher security risk. External data solution with no direct access causes fewer workflow changes in reporting, but is a lengthier process, and data updates are delayed. Pull Required Data from Database Export Delimited Report Data Upload to Web Server

27 PROMOTION

28 SEO Search engines handle the majority of online traffic. Optimizations to increase the standing and ranking of a page can provide a more consistent stream of users, increasing the reach of your content. 1. Ensure the dashboard provides easy access to content, but promotes additional exploration, i.e. Wikipedia. 2. Ensure the dashboard title and header elements are accurate and descriptive. 3. Links have value relative to the user. Know your audience.

29 Awareness A well-designed dashboard clearly presents its value to the targeted audience, but building awareness remains a key factor for successful community engagement. Entry Points Meeting Presentations Timing Monitoring Analytics

30 Questions & Suggestions What s next?