Among Massachusetts CAAs, Internet connections and uses vary significantly from agency to agency. The examples listed below serve to illustrate the wide range of capabilities and interests.
Approximately 890 of over 2,000 computers are connected to the Internet.
755 of those 890 connections are at 7 agencies.
18 agencies have 135 Internet connections among them.
13 agencies have 8 or fewer PCs linked to the Internet.
6 agencies have fewer than 5 PCs linked to the Internet.
CAAs report that many Internet connections are not used regularly.
Internet users across the state typically use e-mail (including file attachment for data exchange) and browse sites on the World Wide Web. Below is a list of some specific uses:
Growing numbers of senior staff use the Internet to research funding opportunities, federal regulations, program updates, and to download information.
A small number of agencies bank on-line.
In one rural county, a small agency is using its Web site to coordinate food pantries across a large geographical area.
Several agencies maintain computers for educational uses for their clients, adults and/or children, and many of those computers are linked to the Internet.
At least two agencies are developing comprehensive information and referral services through the Internet and the use of innovative Web sites.
Rarest of all uses, one agency has used the Internet for long-distance learning and video conferencing.
Agencies report on-line is still rather limited, but includes data transfer to: DPH, CCCB, Boston Edison, DOE, DHCD, DHHS, DOJ, DHHHS-POS, HUD.
Senior staff anticipate that funding sources will increasingly require paperless reporting as well as downloading of RFPs, although at the moment expectations are inconsistent. One funding agency, for example, sends forms to be filled out on disk, but requires the return of hard copies.