Interactive Mapping for WAISN Resource Finder

Grantee: Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network
Timeframe: October 2024 – September 2025 | Amount: $30,000

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)

The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) plans to enhance their Resource Finder with an interactive map to expand usability for hotline operators and other organizations. Also, WAISN proposes to extend a fellowship program to build immigrant leadership, address health disparities, and support resource vetting and accuracy.

WAISN strives to maintain a Resource Finder that is up-to-date, constantly meeting the needs of the community and recalibrating to meet narrow gaps in resources and access to safety nets so that community members are equipped with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves and one another. With the expansion of Apple Health to include undocumented community members, it will be crucial to keep WAISN’s healthcare resources current because as more community members learn about this new access, they will call WAISN’s hotline, an established source of trusted information. Therefore, a portion of the Nimble funds will support the continued operation of WAISN’s Resource Finder database, led by their Community Resource Organizer, ensuring WAISN’s healthcare related resources remain up-to-date and new resources are vetted and added to continue growing their reach. As new healthcare opportunities for immigrants expand, WAISN’s vetting process requires them to convene and hold external organizations, government agencies, and departments accountable for offering culturally competent service with the expectation that WAISN is building a strong network of institutions ready to proactively and comprehensively serve all of Washington’s immigrants’ intersectional needs. Healthcare plays an essential role in the resource ecosystem.

WAISN will further improve access to healthcare-related resources for immigrants in two ways:

1. The addition of a mapping feature to WAISN’s Resource Finder will enable the geographic location of each resource to be displayed on a map. The interactive map feature will significantly enhance WAISN’s hotline operators’ ability to connect callers to the services they need. Operators will be able to locate resources more quickly and accurately based on the caller’s specific location, whether it be neighborhood, city, or county. This enhancement will improve efficiency, allowing operators to rapidly pinpoint the closest and most relevant resources, reducing search time, and increasing the operators’ capacity to support more callers. The map’s capability to search for resources within a manageable distance will ensure that recommended services are genuinely accessible to the caller.

While WAISN’s system is now searchable by county, it does not allow users to search by the city or neighborhood in which they are located. This element, a critical component of the integrative map feature, will enable users to quickly locate resources in their area by searching based on location and county, improving accessibility and usability, especially for those with limited mobility, including reliance on public transportation. Maps also present information visually that transcends language; in this way, adding a mapping feature to WAISN’s Resource Finder will expand their democratic, care-based model of support centered on best serving immigrants’ needs. The data gathered using the map feature will provide valuable insights into service availability and gaps in specific areas. This information will help WAISN identify trends and areas needing additional resources or support, enhancing their ability to serve the community. Because WAISN’s search engine currently lives on their website and is publicly accessible, it is often used by community members directly to search for resources for themselves and their loved ones, as well as community leaders who work with members of the community.

For this project, WAISN will contract with Logical Alternative, a transgender-led, values-aligned team. Their deep understanding of WAISN’s system, technical expertise, and community-focused values make them invaluable allies. They know the ins and outs of WAISN’s system because they built it, and WAISN trusts them to implement this project seamlessly into their current structure.

2. Funding will also support WAISN’s leadership development program, the Resource Information Fellowship, which compensates fellows who assist in maintaining and expanding WAISN’s robust resource information delivery system. WAISN’s fellowship program centers directly impacted community members and offers an opportunity to learn about the organization’s mission, goals, and programs, and develop skills in resource management, cross-departmental collaboration, team-building, and internal communications.

ABOUT OUR GRANTEE

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network

“WAISN is the largest immigrant-led coalition in Washington. We are a powerful, volunteer-driven network of immigrant and refugee-rights organizations and individuals distributed across the state that strives to protect, serve and strengthen communities across the state.”