Under Proposition 10 (First 5), money raised from taxes on tobacco is spent on children’s development across California. The money is allocated to each county according to birthrate. Mosaic was there from the start to provide specialist consulting and technology for First 5. The following is how we have helped Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara County Children and Families Commission (SBCCFC) needed a system that would not only distribute First 5 funds to agencies but also evaluate how effective their spending is. The Commission is one of the leading agencies in California in the field of grant outcomes evaluation.
SBCCFC brought in Mosaic to devise an evaluation framework and develop software to support it. Mosaic consultants set to work with the Commission’s agencies on the ground to understand how they work. In consultation with SBCFC, Mosaic designed an evaluation framework.
Using this knowledge and based on the evaluation framework, Mosaic designed GEMS, one of the most sophisticated multi-agency information systems in the world. Unlike other First 5 systems, GEMS gives software to the giver and the receiver of funding. Through the exchange of information, GEMS allows SBCCFC to truly analyze the effectiveness of their grants.
The initial system went online in 2001. Speaking just after the launch, SBCCFC’s Edna Phinney said: "The reporting software is very dynamic. We're very excited to have it with us and the possibilities it has are tremendous".
With a system like this, support and training are vital. Many of the workers in the childcare agencies were not regular computer users so Mosaic designed the system with them in mind. Mosaic staff provided both training and round-the-clock support.
Dee Gonzalez of Marian Community Clinics was one of the first agencies to use GEMS. "The customer service has been excellent and the support has been excellent - they're just a phone call away," she said.
Now in its fourth year of use at SBCCFC, GEMS continues to impress and produce results. One of GEMS’ successes on record includes three full years of submitting quarterly reports electronically. In fact, Santa Barbara County was the first county to submit state annual report data electronically in 2003. GEMS has also produced a wealth of knowledge about which programs are working and should be funded. The best part is that GEMS has adapted flawlessly to shifts in commission strategic planning and funding models.
