Domestic Violence Information System Coordination and Research Project (DISCAR)
Principal Investigator: Lori A. Post
- Purpose
The purpose of this project is to develop, implement, and evaluate information systems at the local level which can provide information on domestic violence incidents in Michigan. This system will support the Violence Against Women surveillance system currently under development in the Michigan Department of Community Health.
- Goals
The goals of this project are to collect data and convert existing computerized databases to integrate with the Violence Against Women surveillance system.
- Methodology and Program Content
The Agency will create a database containing domestic violence (DV) incidents for the Department to be included in the VAW surveillance system on violence against women in Michigan. The final database will be produced two copies. One will be sent to the Department and the other will remain in the participating domestic violence shelters.
The project team will include a project director, database manager, one clerical-technical, and data entry persons. The project director will build up the project team, hire the team members, monitor the project operation, design and conduct the project evaluation, and prepare reports and presentations. The database manager is responsible for creating the electronic data entry forms; setting-up computer systems in the participating DV shelters for data collecting; cleaning the database; and preparing the final database. The clerical-technical staff person will provide support services to other staff members and the project. The main functions of the C-T include coordinating the data entry tea; setting-up meetings between Agency and Department staff, and the participating DV shelters; and managing the necessary paperwork. Three data entry persons will comprise the data entry team, which will be responsible for transferring data from paper to the electronic database.
Creating data entry forms in one of primary responsibilities of the database manager. The database manager will create specific electronic data entry forms based on the special needs of each participating DV shelter. In addition, the database manager will prepare instructions for data entry staff and the personnel of the participating DV shelter on how to use data entry forms.
Before the initiation of data entry, the contractor will set up appropriate computer systems in the participating DV programs. An appropriate computer system must be able to operate Windows 95 and Microsoft Access. Existing computer systems located in the participating DV shelters for data entry will be upgraded. The shelters will be given computer technical assistance.
The data entry teams will enter data from paper records to the electronic database in the participating domestic violence shelters. Some DV shelters manage their databases by using out-dated computer software. In order to create a standardized data collection system, the existing data will be converted and upgraded to Microsoft Access.
The database manager will also manage databases for all participating DV shelters. For constructing the final database for the MDCH, the database manager will clean and merge databases from all participating DV shelters into a final database, which will become part of the Department's statewide VAW surveillance system.
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