# Presentation: 149513

## Community Voice Mail :A Link for the Disconnected 

- TOP Networks for People Conference
- 6 December 2001
- Jennifer Brandon, Executive Director
- Community Technology Institute

## COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

**CVM Federation**
**2001**

## What is the need?

**More than 5 Million American households are without telephone service**
**Public payphone rates have doubled in most regions**
**Estimated 30,000 people are connected** **to CVM every day**

## COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

*Touching lives by keeping people in touch...*

**How**** Community Voice Mail ****works:**

**Host Agency**
- Coordinates CVM in community
- Provides CVM numbers to Direct Service Providers
- Collects Outcome Information

**Community Technology Institute**
- Coordinates CVM Federation – Provides Technical Assistance – Defines Best Practices

- To move to next slide – strike any key ** **

## COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

*Touching lives by keeping people in touch...*

-  **Employers**
** ****Social Services**
** ****Case Managers**
** ****Welfare-to-Work **
** ****Health care**
** ****Job Counselors**
** ****Employment Agencies**
** ****Housing programs**
** ****Landlords**
** ****Shelter services**
** ****Safe communication**
** ****Chem-Dependency Treatment**

**Community Voice Mail connects the “phoneless” to:**

-  **Emergency Services**
** ****Supportive Services**
** ****Social Workers**
** ****Job Clubs**
** ****Child Care providers**
** ****Schools**
** ****Training programs**
** ****Support networks**
** ****Probation officers**
** ****Family and friends**

- To move to next slide – strike any key ** **

## Client Outcomes

**4025**

**3793**

**2088**

**5295**

**5862**

**2481**

**6500**

**6004**

**2965**

- 0

- 1000

- 2000

- 3000

- 4000

- 5000

- 6000

- 7000

- 8000

**6751**

**1997**

**1998**

**1999**

**2000**

- Found Housing

- Found Employment

- Received Safe Communication

## CVM Evaluation Goals
Obtain information from CVM users on helpfulness and user patterns.

Obtain information from CVM social service providers on the helpfulness of the voicemail system for communicating with their clients and on the service guidelines used to distribute the CVM service.

Engage in a learning process regarding CTI’s role in evaluation of CVM Federation sites from a national perspective.

**Obtain information from CVM users on helpfulness and user patterns.**
**Obtain information from CVM social service providers on the helpfulness of the voicemail system for communicating with their clients and on the service guidelines used to distribute the CVM service.**
**Engage in a learning process regarding CTI’s role in evaluation of CVM Federation sites from a national perspective.**

## HIGHLIGHTS:  PROVIDERS

**189 Provider Sheets Returned**
**“****How helpful is CVM to you for providing information to your clients?”**

## HIGHLIGHTS: CLIENTS

**689 Client Surveys Returned**
_***“***__***How helpful has your voicemail been...?”***_
**78% Very Helpful in Job Search  (N=577)**
**68% Very Helpful in Housing Search (N=447) **
**72% Very Helpful in Medical/Health Care (N=434)**
**69% Very Helpful in Child Care/Services (N=179)**
**91% Very Helpful in Safe & Private Place (N=623)**

## HIGHLIGHTS: CLIENTS

** ****689 Client Surveys Returned**

## HIGHLIGHTS:  CLIENT MSGS

-  The majority of the responses clearly indicated that these    users find their voicemail _**very helpful, useful, and/or**_**    **_** important (95%).**_**  **
-  Several of the respondents also described using their   voicemail to:
**Look for work (95%)**
**Look for housing (55%)**
**Coordinate medical appointments (11%)**
**Stay in contact with family and friends (5%)**
**Have safe and private communication (3%)**

## HIGHLIGHTS: CLIENT MSGS

**907 Client Responses to Broadcast Msg**
**CVM and Homelessness**
**“****I was in the YWCA family shelter for two years and I am in an apartment now...so it did help me get housing, also look for work, get appointments and services for my son.  I’m going off the service soon. Call me if I can help publicize.” (Boston)**
**CVM and Employment**
**“****The voicemail has been extremely helpful without it I wouldn't have been able to get messages from employers or anything like that and I just got a job today so thank you.  (Wenatchee)**
**CVM and Safety**
**“****CVM has helped me a great deal.  I got the number when in shelter and it helped to keep me and my child safe.  I’m going through a child support case and it’s important that the lawyer can leave me message.  Good for doctors appointments too.  Truly awesome. Thank you.” (Twin Cities)**

## COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

****** ****4 Habits of**** Effective ****CVM Programs**

- To move to next slide – strike any key ** **

## COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

****** ****4 Habits of**** Ineffective ****CVM Programs**

- To move to next slide – strike any key ** **

## COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

**Jennifer Brandon****	****	**
**Executive Director**
**Community Technology Institute**
**(206) 441-7872 ext 175**
**Email:  **_[jbrandon@activevoice.com](mailto:jbrandon@activevoice.com)_
**Roderick Mills****	****	**
**Community Technology Institute**
**Program Manager**
**(206) 441-7872 ext 190**
**Email:  **_[rmills](mailto:rmilss@activevoice.com)__[@activevoice.com](mailto:rmilss@activevoice.com)_

**CVM Federation**
**Connecting thousands of people every day**

**For more information, contact:**

- PO Box 61385  •  Seattle, WA  98121	       	    	                                Email: cvm@activevoice.com
- Phone:  	(206) 441-7872			     	                                 Web:   http://www.cvm.org

**Or visit us on the Web****:**
- _[www.cvm.org](http://www.cvm.org/)_

- Click on hyperlink to reach contact or strike any key to end slide show 