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Improving Accessibility to Programs <br />Facilitator: Peggy Pollitzer <br />The group included physical barriers, economic barriers, customer <br />service, and information- and referral .services in their <br />discussion of major accessibility issues. <br />Priorities for action: <br />1. Develop a system for improving customer service in programs. <br />Evaluation of services should be built in. Train employees <br />in how to relate to clients. Use the County's new MCI system <br />to improve services. Get feedback from clients. <br />2. Create a computerized, centralized information and referral <br />system. <br />3. In order to maximize the use of funds, develop a system to <br />evaluate where and how dollars are spent on human services . <br />Tie the system into the funding process. Also, evaluate <br />program activities in relation to the Vision Statement. <br />4. Provide rural transportation. <br />5. Services should be available regardless of ability to pay. <br />6. Provide expanded or flexible hours for services. Begin by <br />evaluating the need to change hours of operation. <br />Obtaining User and Community Input <br />Facilitator: Jan Schopler <br />This group agreed that obtaining user and community input starts <br />with developing community -wide commitment to accountability to <br />consumers and making both the consumers and community at large <br />aware that their input is desired and will be used. Any system <br />for obtaining input must have mechanisms for obtaining feedback, <br />must embrace diversity in a way that creates acceptance of the <br />needs of all members of community, must empower members of the <br />human services community in the use of innovative approaches to <br />outreach so they are comfortable and effective obtaining input, <br />must empower consumers by educating and involving them in <br />decision - making, must be efficient and accessible, and must be <br />consumer - driven. <br />3 <br />