Building a Client Resource and Communication Platform for Community-Based Organizations to Address Health and Social Needs: Co-Design Study

Abstract Background Connecting individuals to existing community resources is critical to addressing social needs and improving population health. While there is much ongoing informatics work embedding social needs screening and referrals into health care systems and their electronic health records, there has been less focus on the digital ecosystem and needs of community-based organizations (CBOs) providing or connecting individuals to these resources. Objective We used human-centered design to develop a digital platform for CBOs, focused on identification of health and social resources and communication with their clients. Methods Centered in the Develop phase of the design process, we conducted in-depth interviews in 2 phases with community-based organizational leadership and staff to create and iterate on the platform. We elicited and mapped participant feedback to theory-informed domains from the Technology Acceptance Model, such as Usefulness and Ease of Use, to build the final product and summarized all major design decisions as the platform development proceeded. Results Overall, we completed 22 interviews with 18 community-based organizational leadership and staff in 2 consecutive Develop phases. After coding of the interview transcripts, there were 4 major themes related to usability, relevance, and external factors impacting use. Specifically, CBOs expressed an interest in a customer relationship management software to manage their client interactions and communications, and they needed specific additional features to address the scope of their everyday work, namely (1) digital and SMS text messaging communication with clients and (2) easy ways to identify relevant community resources based on diverse client needs and various program eligibility criteria. Finally, clear implementation needs emerged, such as digital training and support for staff using new platforms. The final platform, titled “Mapping to Enhance the Vitality of Engaged Neighborhoods (MAVEN),” was completed in the Salesforce environment in 2022, and it included features and functions directly mapped to the design process. Conclusions Engaging community organizations in user-centered design of a health and social resource platform was essential to tapping into their deep expertise in serving local communities and neighborhoods. Design methods informed by behavioral theory can be similarly employed in other informatics research. Moving forward, much more work will be necessary to support the implementation of platforms specific to CBOs’ needs, especially given the resources, training, and customization needed in these settings.