Innovation Fund: Spring 2021 Initiatives | Workplace of Innovation and Know-how

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The Innovation Fund has awarded 4 thrilling Metropolis tasks with funding for its spring 2021 cycle. The Innovation Fund is an inside Metropolis grant alternative funded by the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia and this 12 months, obtained its first personal sector contribution from Verizon. The Fund is managed by the Innovation Administration Workforce within the Metropolis’s Workplace of Innovation & Know-how.

Every cycle, via a aggressive software course of, the Innovation Fund helps pilot tasks created by Metropolis workers that suggest new and distinctive packages, initiatives and repair supply strategies. The Fund prioritizes tasks and concepts that:

  • Have by no means been tried earlier than in Philadelphia;
  • Pilot one thing that’s new and completely different for a given division;
  • Push Philadelphia to be the primary metropolis to resolve an issue in a novel manner;
  • Leverage partnerships and stakeholder collaboration; and
  • Concentrate on delivering companies extra successfully, equitably, and effectively to residents

In regards to the tasks

The beneath tasks have obtained funding.

  • Free Library of Philadelphia: “Out of doors Pc Lab” ($6,945)
    • The Torresdale Library Department will create the first-ever FLP outside pc space, permitting patrons to make use of laptops and interact with library choices whereas sustaining social distance. The outside lab units is not going to be time-restricted, granting group members the pliability to fill out job functions, full unemployment / profit varieties, create resumes, and extra. A wi-fi printer will present outside lab customers with printing capabilities, together with the choice to print immediately from their cell phones (the primary Free Library location to supply this expertise).
  • Division of Public Well being (DPH): “Bounce Again Philly (BBP) Artistic Nook E-newsletter” ($7,000)
    • As a part of the prevailing BBP program—which offers sources and help for individuals who want to soundly isolate or quarantine whereas recognized with COVID-19—the DPH is launching their Artistic Nook E-newsletter to interact remoted contributors in actions similar to artwork, poetry, writing, and mindfulness to assist fight loneliness and tedium. The Artistic Nook E-newsletter will function chosen items of authentic work from quarantined people to raised interact these residents and enhance psychological well being throughout the “secure separation” from family and friends.
  • Workplace of Youngsters and Households (OCF): “Interactive Mapping Challenge” ($3,500)
    • To democratize knowledge and assist households and direct service staff shortly and simply determine accessible Metropolis companies of their group, OCF will rent a graduate fellow to develop an interactive, public-facing map of lively packages, companies, and property. This dynamic map will embrace places and repair details about sources and initiatives similar to Out-of-Faculty Time packages, PHLpreK websites, grownup training companies, meals entry websites, Neighborhood Colleges, libraries, and Parks & Recreation services. This is able to be the primary map of its form for the Metropolis as a result of it gives up-to-date particulars about program enrollment, hours, accessible capability, and extra.
  • Division of Behavioral Well being and Mental disAbility Companies (DBHIDS): “Immigrant / Refugee Wellness Academy” ($7,500)
    • The Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion (DEI) workforce inside DBHIDS will launch a Wellness Academy for immigrant and refugee residents in Philadelphia. This data and skill-based coaching program is designed to empower and put together immigrants and refugees with the required instruments to handle the behavioral well being and/or mental incapacity challenges skilled locally. The Academy will implement a “prepare the coach” mannequin. The workforce will recruit a pilot cohort of 20 “peer specialists” (who’re additionally immigrants and refugees) to share sources, present help, and join their group to different behavioral well being companies.

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