How Kiosks Can Work Alongside the Family Intervention Project - By: S.Roberts

The Family Intervention Project (FIP) is a hard working department set up by the Government to provide the most 'at risk' families with the high level, intensive support they need to make positive changes to their lives and the lives of their children. At risk families often have a number of issues which make their lives difficult for the family to deal with. A number of government departments including social services and the police work in coalition to help these families overcome their problems. For many of these types families the conclusion may be that they are evicted form their homes at a cost of a quarter of a million pound to the tax payer, so it is in everyone's best interests to help these struggling families to get back on their feet. Kiosk could be the ideal way to assist the Family Intervention Project (FIP) to help families in need.

Family Intervention Project is involved with families who have disproportionate amounts of anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour can encompasses many problems that the family might be experiencing, and which usually have a knock on effect which turns in to a downward spiral. Knowledge is a the key tool to turning a family around, but often families do not know where to turn, because they fear that their needs will not be heard and they fear reprisals - fines from the truancy officer, and their children being taken into care because the mother is finding it difficult to cope etc. A small number of stories in the media have exasperated the fear for families in need to ask for assistance.

Kiosks could be the solution to connecting with families before they reach the 'at risk' category. Touch screen kiosks can be installed into buildings where you would expect to find families that might be struggling - for example the job centre and places where people 'sign on', and the buildings where income support and crisis loans are awarded. Kiosks are a friendly interface where families with difficulties can obtain information and support without fear of reprisals. Users can access information in a private and anonymous environment.

Information housed on the kiosk might include details about Antisocial Behaviour Contract (ABC's), parenting classes for parents and Social activities for kids, this sort of information would help to turn the family's behavioural problems around. There could also be more practical information about social housing, additional benefits that the family could claim and additional help that might be available to them, this information would help to improve their day to day lives, and to alleviate stress within the home. Employment is a great way to lift families out of poverty and to give families a sense of pride, kiosks could also provide information and practical help about how to find work and child care to assist parents to get back into the job market.

Not only could kiosks provide information of help and support and how families can help themselves, kiosks are also a great way for users to make contact with agencies in a nonthreatening way. Kiosks can enable users to fill out on-screen application forms and contact forms as well as making contact to agencies via SMS text messages and via the kiosk handset to make direct telephone calls. Making contact from a kiosk makes uses feel secure because they can remain nameless during to the point of contact until they feel assured enough to disclose their name and so enabling help to begin at an earlier stage before social issues reach a critical point.

Information kiosks are very versatile and are able to house a lot of information and enable users to interact with the information on the screen. Information can be updated in real time via remote access - this means that kiosks on the network are all updated by one central computer via a user friendly central management system. The obvious benefits of this is that when changes in the law or systems occur, the kiosks can be updated on the same day inhouse, which is both practical for the information delivery and cost effective.

For work in the community, portable kiosks equipped with 3g wireless connectivity can be used. These handheld devices still feature a touchscreen and easy to use software and can be carried to appointments and used by the families to find information which may help them.

About the Author

http://www.kiosks4business.com develop touch screen kiosks and kiosk software. Find out more about http://www.kiosks4business.com the kiosks manufacturer and interactive kiosks on the website.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/S-Roberts/6079

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