Formal Asset Mapping for Livable Communities

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Formal Asset Mapping is the process of intentionally identifying the human, material, financial, entrepreneurial, and other resources in a community. Through a partnership amongst two small colleges, the county’s Department of Senior Programs and Services, and Information Technology Department, particularly the Geographic Information System division, an intergenerational project was developed. The project’s purpose is to identify community services that help seniors remain in their homes as they age. It has produced three user friendly products. Moreover, it has heightened awareness in students about the types of services seniors need to stay community-based and many social, economic, and policy issues facing seniors today. Through a course developed by staff in the department of senior programs and services, student interns from Iona College and Sarah Lawrence College have made good use of technology and other traditional methods to identify these services or assets. The information is forwarded to the county’s IT department where a student intern works with staff to assist with the production of three important items: a physical map with various icons representing assets, a hard copy asset resource book with services categorically listed and an online website portal complete with a Livable Communities application. Website visitors can input an address and immediately view a listing of the services in a chosen category.