Welcome to the Kern County GIS Task Force!

GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems, a technology used to view and analyze our world from a visual perspective.

Kern County GIS Task Force's mission is to plan and implement a coordinated effort to regularly analyze the social conditions in Kern County using Geographic Information Systems and, as partners, making integrated, data-driven decisions benefitting the health and well being of children and their families through:

  • Dissemination of data and data products
  • Education and outreach
  • Adoption of standards
  • Building partnerships

    Please join us for bi-monthly GIS Task Force meetings hosted by the Kern County Network for Children! During each meeting we will showcase a family service agency or organization currently using GIS tools in their program planning and decision making. We will discuss on-going issues and tools (access to data, confidentiality, beginning GIS work, etc.) and understand and explore GIS service possibilities for Kern County.

    What's New

    In January, the GIS Task Force began brainstorming ideas for a community mapping project using data to share with agencies and community partners in addition to the KCNC Governing Board. Proposed projects included areas in educational attainment, law enforcement and community policing and communicable disease as well as special projects focusing on data integrity and preparation for the 2010 Census. In April 2008, GIS Task Force members selected a map series project that will examine upon environmental factors and risk of childhood obesity in Kern County.

    During the May GIS Task Force meeting, we will further develop the selected project by discussing project goals, hypotheses and methodology. We will also identify data sources, agency partners and group member roles. Please come with your ideas!

    On Wednesday May 7, Mike Pilley from the Department of Human Services and Kim Silva from the Network for Children have been invited to update the KCNC Governing Board about the GIS Task Force. They will discuss the Group's progress to date in developing this GIS map series project, its decision making process and an overview of the Group's final selection including possible data elements, partners and the project's potential to assist agencies in improving the effectiveness of their prevention and intervention efforts at the community and county level.

    Meeting Location

    Community Connection for Child Care
    2000 24th Street, Bakersfield
    Conference Room A

    2008 Meeting Schedule

    Friday, May 16 (Agenda)
    Friday, July 18
    Friday, September 19

    2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

    GIS Recommended Websites & Readings

  • Central Cal URISA
  • Using GIS to Better Serve Children
  • California Nutrition Network (CNN) - GIS Map Viewer Nutrition and other health related data, including CNN Nutrition grantees
  • Document: GIS in Higher-Ed Libraries This is a compilation of returns from a survey that Emily Miller (University of Missouri) sent out in April 2004 to various GIS Librarians.
  • US Census Bureau list of Census Information Centers
  • Peabody’s Census Information Page

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