Technology Connects N.J. Residents to Health, Government, Human Services

July 20, 2009 - PRLog -- Paramus, N.J. and Pittsburgh, Pa. – The New Jersey 2-1-1 Partnership (NJ 2-1-1) and Rhiza Labs have launched an online resource portal that connects New Jersey residents to health, government, and human services. With the recession increasing service demand, NJ 2-1-1’s portal (www.nj211.org) relieves the strain on call centers and enables residents to get help confidentially, quickly and easily.

NJ 2-1-1’s new web tool is powered by Community Catalog, a web-based asset management platform from community technology laboratory Rhiza Labs. Community Catalog combines data from many sources to create intuitive websites that help people find the resources they need. Community Catalog is an InfoWorld Top IT Project winner and ZDNet has lauded it as a “bright star for the future of information.” Community Catalog powers many other resource portals for sectors as diverse as human services, education, and tourism.

The NJ 2-1-1 Partnership’s resource portal unites information from a variety of sources to ensure that users find the best services to meet their needs. By gathering users’ service needs and home location, it dynamically matches them with resources that match their details. The portal ensures that users find the best services to meet their needs by providing detailed program information, including eligibility criteria, languages spoken and proximity to public transportation.

“One of the greatest challenges to connecting people with the resources they need is navigating the wealth of services available in New Jersey,” says Laura Zink Marx, Executive Director of the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership. “The NJ 2-1-1 Partnership is proud to provide an innovative resource for New Jersey residents to find the help they need, quickly and easily.”

Josh Knauer, President and CEO of Rhiza Labs, noted that, “Rhiza Labs is committed to using technology to strengthen communities. By applying cutting-edge technology to human services information and referral challenges, NJ 2-1-1 has provided an invaluable resource for New Jersey residents to find help.”

To find help now using the new service, visit www.nj211.org and click, “I need help,” or “I want to search the database.” For more information on Rhiza Labs, visit www.rhizalabs.com.

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Rhiza Labs creates software that helps non-profits and government agencies share information, understand community needs, track community and environmental assets and collaborate around shared collections of data.