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G2S Project Code: 2021-FL-88153
State: Florida
Fiscal Year: 2021

Grantee
Orange County Library System

Project Director
Director Name: Vanessa Neblett
Director Phone: 407.835.7370
Director Email: neblett.vanessa@ocls.info

General Information
Title: ARPA: Library Social Workers at Orange County Library System: Building a Healthy Community Together
State Project Code: 21-ARPA-30
Start Date: 09/03/2021
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: Orange County Library System sought to serve individuals in Orange County who needed social services resources by hiring two trained social workers who worked in various library locations and connected people with services that helped bring resolution to their unique needs. In conjunction with our one on-staff social worker, these additional professionals will be able to reach and assist more of our community members in finding essential services needed as a result of COVID-19, such as SNAP benefits, unemployment resources, and housing options. The hospitality industry in Central Florida alone, the biggest industry in the region, was impacted greatly with almost 100,000 jobs lost due to the Coronavirus Pandemic according to the Orlando Business Journal. To sustain this important collaboration within our community, library and social worker professionals created, promoted, and hosted events to educate the public about local services available for assistance on various topics and how to access and effectively use these social services resources.

State Goal: Goal 2 - Strengthen Libraries: Floridians use libraries with staff, resources and facilities that transform to meet user needs.

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$125,541.00

$0.00

$37,674.19

$163,215.19

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Employment
Civic Affairs

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Connect individuals with services that will help to bring a resolution to their unique needs.
Narrative: From January 18-September 27, 2022, 2274 customers were assisted by our three social workers at various library locations. 166 call/email back forms were submitted and completed. 567 surveys were completed.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: In-person

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 2,274
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 284

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No

Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No

Activity Details
Title: Facilitate workshops to educate the public on resources available and how to access them.
Narrative: Worked with community partners to present workshops on topics such as Medicare 101, Resume Do's & Don't's, Reaching Out Fair, and Florida Homeowner Assistance Fund. 44 workshops were presented at various OCLS locations with a combined attendance of 849. Average workshop was 1 hour in length.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 44
Number of times program administered: 19

Partner Information

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Alafaya Branch
Address: 12000 E. Colonial Drive
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32836
Name: Chickasaw Branch
Address: 870 N. Chickasaw Trail
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32825
Name: Eatonville Branch
Address: 200 E. Kennedy Blvd
City: Eatonville
State: FL
Zip: 32751
Name: Fairview Shores Branch
Address: 902 Lee Road, Suite 26
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32810
Name: Hiawassee Branch
Address: 7391 W. Colonial Drive
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32818
Name: North Orange Branch
Address: 1211 E. Semoran Blvd
City: Apopka
State: FL
Zip: 32703
Name: Orlando Public Library
Address: 101 E. Central Blvd
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32801
Name: South Trail Branch
Address: 4600 S. Orange Blossom Trail
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32839
Name: Southeast Branch
Address: 5575 S. Semoran Blvd
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32822
Name: Washington Park Branch
Address: 5151 Raleigh St., Suite A
City: Orlando
State: FL
Zip: 32811
Name: Windermere Branch
Address: 530 Main St
City: Windermere
State: FL
Zip: 34786
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 50
Agree: 4
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 3
Non-Response: 5
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 50
Agree: 3
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 3
Non-Response: 4
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 45
Agree: 7
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 3
Non-Response: 5
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 46
Agree: 10
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 3
Non-Response: 3
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 49
Agree: 4
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 4
Non-Response: 3

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
There is great need for assistance in finding social services and having the ability to spend one-on-one time with an expert to help navigate the massive network of resources. The expansion of our social worker services from one Social Worker to three in total has been met with great success. In addition, one of our Social Workers speaks Spanish which increases our ability to assist our community. Previously, our one social worker visited six locations during the week, including no Saturday availability and one of the days split between two locations. With the expansion to three, the Main Library (Orlando Public Library) was able to have a social worker available five days a week which is very helpful for our homeless population that is centered in the downtown area. We added three new locations for social worker sessions. New partnerships were sought and connections made.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
With the three social workers, we will be making a bigger emphasis on partnerships in the upcoming year. Our social workers found that some organizations had variable qualifications, so a concerted effort to meet either in person or by phone representatives from more community organizations will be worked on in the upcoming year. While we were able to expand to new OCLS locations, we still have locations that do not have a social worker at any point so we will look at ways to assist customers who go to the other locations.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Time, expertise, and one-on-one appointments are incredibly needed and wanted by our customers. Social workers have all of these qualities. The ability to provide these services for our customers seems to be a needed goal in our current climate. From our housing crisis to our continual homelessness needs to COVID-based changes to the services provided locally, statewide, and nationally, these are just some examples of issues which have created a greater need in our community. We need to find different ways to help our customers. Providing expert resources is something that libraries have been doing since the beginning and having a social worker (or three) on staff increases our abilities to find the right services for our customers.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
Outreach to community organizations will increase not only for potential programs but also to make sure we are providing the best resource for our customers. Our first priority will continue to be one-on-one assistance to our customers.
Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:

Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative

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