Using GIS to Better Serve Children

What is GIS?

GIS (Geographic Information System) is the use of computer software to link places with information. A GIS map can present many layers of different information at the same time. All of the map's information (where an address is, how long a street is, how many people live in a square mile) is stored as layers in a digital format.

Each layer represents a particular theme or feature of the map. One theme could be made up of all the streets in an area. Another theme could represent all the fire stations in the same area. And another layer could represent all the city boundaries. All of these themes can be laid on top of one another, creating a stack of information about the same geographic area. Each layer can be turned off and on, as if you were peeling a layer off the stack or placing it back on. You control the amount of information about an area that you want to see, at any time, on any specific map.

How is GIS used?

Businesses often rely on GIS to organize, analyze, and present their business data. Business owners often use a GIS map to look at community demographics and income levels so they can locate new stores in areas that increase profits. Companies have also saved millions of dollars by managing delivery routes with GIS.

Public agencies use GIS to streamline government work and make cost-efficient decisions. It is used most often in the fields of transportation, land use and planning, environmental resources, and pubic safety. Kern County has a consortium of public agency GIS professionals called Kern Geographic Information Network or GEONET.

How is GIS helping children and families in Kern County?

In 2005, the Network for Children began discussing the use of GIS to improve the delivery of prevention and intervention services to families in Kern County. Our Governing Board appointed a GIS Task Force to explore the use of this technology in human services. It was agreed that mapping software could help pinpoint areas where children were in greatest need, but only if confidential data were available.

After making the Network for Children the secure place to house this sensitive data, the Department of Human Services was the first to step forward with a large data set. Using this information, child abuse prevalence rates were mapped and areas with high rates were soon targeted for additional prevention services.

The Departments of Child Support Services, Probation, the Housing Authority of Kern, and Bakersfield Police Department also participated by sharing data. GEONET partners, Kern High School District and Kern County Superintendent of Schools provided important street and boundary maps and invaluable technical assistance.

In 2006, prevalence maps were created for child abuse, juvenile probation, children not receiving court-ordered child support, families receiving housing assistance, domestic violence calls-for-assistance, youth obesity and fitness levels, and several census data sets including poverty and education levels. These maps are currently being used as decision-making tools and have already influenced staffing, outreach, and new prevention services. Most of the data and maps remain confidential due to the sensitive information and are only released with permission of the agency providing the original data. However, maps using Census data and other public information will be added to a "Map Gallery" in Summer 2007.

What's next?

We are working diligently to add comprehensive health, law enforcement and other social statistics to our collection of social data. The Network's GIS Task Force meets bimonthly to discuss on-going data collection issues, share knowledge and success stories and increase collaboration among social service providers using GIS. Those interested are encouraged to attend bimonthly meetings at the Community Connection for Child Care office (2000 24th Street)from 2:00-3:30pm (Meeting Dates)

Local GIS Links:

City of Bakersfield GIS
County of Kern GIS
Kern Council of Governments
Kern County Superintendent of Schools
Kern GEONET


Other GIS Links:

URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association)
ESRI GIS and Mapping Software
Worldwide Annual GIS Day






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