Concern for Vast Social Services Database on the City's Neediest

The one-stop data-gathering and delivery project, called "Worker Connect", which cost $28 million to develop, draws selected data from the Administration for Children’s Services, the child welfare agency; the Department of Homeless Services; the Housing Authority; records of seniors’ rent subsidies from the Department of Finance; and the Human Resources Administration, which administers Medicaid, welfare and food stamps in the city. When data is available in an emergency it is always good. If data is and intervention and prevents k-12 student poor attendance prior at not qualifying for tests and graduation it is good. If data is not used for progress motivation to develop human capital for our national good it is bad. 

Legislation introduced unprecedented data on school age children and families has gone unquestioned and unused by communities to improve educational and other professional services. This innovation must be community- monitored and honed intelligently and not end up more than statistical currency for research. There are two responsibilities here R&D and a concerned public.