GIS Applications in Community Assessment and Social Work Research

Purpose

This faculty workshop will provide conceptual and illustrative demonstrations of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, methodology, and application to community assessment and social work research. Various GIS mapping softwares and global-positioning-system (GPS) hardwares will be demonstrated. Additional, major concepts of spatial statistics will be presented and demonstrated.

Geographic Information Systems application in community assessment and social research is relatively new, but it appears to be expanding faster than any other areas of GIS application. Locations of social events, behavioral incidents, surrounding environments, social service and health care facilities, geographic boundaries of communities, and other essential community infrastructures are essential to community health or health services research.

Learning Objectives

Two community-assessment illustrations will be presented to demonstrate the application of GIS in assessing social capital and its inhibitive or facilitative effect on individual or family functioning. They are as follows:

Illustrative GIS Mapping Project #1: Proximal Distance to Liquor Facilities: Barriers to Successful Re-Entry

We will discuss the social barriers to successful re-entry of persons who are living in half-way houses located in four cities in Wyoming-- Cheyenne, Gillette, Casper, and Torrington. Nearly two-thirds of persons serving time in jail or prison have a drinking or drug use problem. Upon re-entry these individuals have received minimal treatment to control their addictive behaviors.

We will present the GIS mapping of the high proximity of liquor facilities and distality of food markets or employment offices to those half-way houses. Having the ability to travel independently to the local food market or pharmacy (for medical prescription) or service providers is essential to successful re-entry. Additionally, the challenges of living in less populous and large rural states such as Wyoming are formidable without the availability of public transportation and more prominent during the winter months of sub-zero temperatures.

Illustrative GIS Mapping Project #2: Facilitating Independent Living for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

We will present a study of the social capital available to persons with developmental disabilities who are living in low to high-independent environment. Optimal independence requires an ability to do daily chores and activities in the normal range of daily functioning. Having the ability to travel independently to the local food market or pharmacy or service providers is essential to independent living. The challenges of living in less populous and large rural states such as Wyoming are equally formidable without the availability of public transportation.

Implications

We will discuss (a) the GIS mapping and spatial analysis demonstrating the relationship between the residential environment and the social network, and (b) the role of social capital in the promotion of effective social functioning of persons with disabilities and paroled persons in sustaining successful re-entry.