Tag: 211

Riddles, Raffles, & Real Talk: DGI at Inform USA 2025

by dgiassociates

Inform USA 2025 Conference Recap

At the conference this past month, attendees stopped by our booth asking, “Are you the Riddle People?”

Well, yes we are – and would you like to pin where you’re from on our map?

While we created buzz and conversation in the exhibitor hall, we enjoyed many interactions from people all across the US and Canada. The big topic this year was again around AI and what people are doing to incorporate these fast changing tools into their data management tasks.

Riddles and a Drawing Winner!

DGI is excited to announce the winner of our 2025 Inform USA Conference raffle as well as the answers to our riddle contest. The raffle awarded one lucky conference attendee $300 with a chance to win an additional $100 if they correctly answered one of our three riddles correctly.

This year’s winner is Sandra Brock from Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District (SMPDD).

Riddle Me This!

Our raffle riddles were the talk of the conference. DGI offered three different riddles on our raffle tickets. Entrants were allowed to enter the raffle as many times as they wanted and could choose the riddle they preferred to answer. Many attendees attempted all three! In total there were 135 entries, with 59 attempting the riddle.
Did you get the answers correct?

Answer: Current

Answer: Heat

Answer: Anchor

DGI’s VP Nominated for Inform USA Award

by dgiassociates

DGI Associates’ Vice President of Operations, Polly McDaniel, was recently nominated for the Inform USA “Community Resource Specialist – Database Curator of the Year” award at the 2025 Inform USA conference in Anaheim, CA this past May. This is the second year in a row that Polly has been nominated for the honor. The award specifically recognizes individuals who excel in their roles within the I&R field, demonstrating leadership, dedication, and a high standard of excellence.

“I am extremely honored to be nominated two years running for the prestigious CRS-DC Inform USA Data Curator of the Year Award. Of the hundreds of people focused on data curation work across the country, it’s hard to find the words to express my appreciation for being mentioned for my contributions.”

Polly has been an integral part of Information and Referral services for over 20 years. Her passion for connecting individuals and families to critical resources through innovative technology and human-centered solutions has been a driving force behind her success. Polly’s leadership has consistently demonstrated her ability to inspire teams, build meaningful partnerships, and ensure that DGI continues to excel in its mission of empowering communities.

If you’re interested in connecting with Polly to discuss how DGI can support your data needs, strategic planning, project management, or training, click here to schedule a time to chat.

Executive Vice President Polly McDaniel (L) with Richard Smith, Strategic Growth Specialist, and Darcy Van Orden, President.

Going Back to School: A Key to Unlocking Social Services

by dgiassociates

As the school year begins, children and parents prepare for new classes, fresh school supplies, and the rhythm of daily education. However, the start of a new academic year also serves as a crucial touchpoint for connecting families with essential social services. Schools are more than just institutions for academic learning; they are community hubs that play a pivotal role in providing access to social support, resources, and services that go far beyond the classroom.

  1. Identifying the Need in Schools: Schools are central in identifying the needs of students facing challenges like hunger, housing instability, or lack of medical care. They provide services such as free meals, health care, and housing assistance through partnerships with local organizations and government programs.
  2. Role of Social Service Providers: Information and Referral (I&R) Service Providers also play a key role in connecting students and families with social services including counseling, crisis intervention, and other agencies, addressing issues like abuse, mental health, and educational accommodations. DGI Associates can help ensure the records for these agencies are up to accurate, comprehensive, and up to date.
  3. Parental Engagement: Engaging parents is crucial for connecting families with social services. Schools provide workshops, information sessions, and employ parent liaisons to ensure that parents are aware of available resources.
  4. Community Impact: When schools effectively link families to social services, the benefits ripple through the community, creating stronger, more resilient neighborhoods. This support helps students succeed academically, breaking the cycle of poverty.
  5. Expanding the Role of Schools: Looking ahead, schools have the potential to play an even greater role in delivering social services. Expanding partnerships, funding, and innovative approaches can ensure more students have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Schools play a vital role in the social safety net, ensuring that children and their families have access to the resources they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. By recognizing and enhancing this role, we can create stronger, healthier communities where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Maximizing the Benefits of Temporary/Outsourced Project Assistance During the Summer

by dgiassociates

As summer unfolds, Information and Referral (I&R) Service Providers face a unique set of challenges. Limited time and resources can make maintaining operational efficiency a juggling act, especially with increased seasonal demands and employee vacations.

DGI offers project-based database management support that can ease the burden on Contact Center Administrators and Database Curators. Think of it as interim staffing support that provides flexibility and agility, helping to maintain employee morale and effectiveness by reducing the number of roles your team needs to cover.

Meeting Seasonal Demands
While business as usual must continue through the summer, the demand for social support services often rises. People face increased energy bills due to higher cooling costs, families with children lose school-based support including food services, and extreme weather events—from forest fires to hurricanes—create additional challenges.

Embracing Flexibility and Work/Life Balance
As I&R services tackle these summer challenges, staff still need to balance work with personal time, including holidays, family visits, and vacations. Short-term staffing support offers the flexibility to meet these challenges effectively.

Ongoing Database Maintenance
Interim staffing is not just about filling immediate gaps. When you bring in professionals with specialized expertise, it can play a crucial role in strategic project management. This approach ensures that projects are completed on time and within budget, while empowering permanent employees to focus on their core responsibilities without distraction.

Enhancing Employee Morale
While summer vacations are a well-deserved perk, they can strain workforce continuity. Supplementing existing teams with interim project support helps alleviate the burden on remaining employees, preventing burnout and maintaining morale. This support reflects a commitment to employee well-being, fostering a positive workplace culture where productivity and job satisfaction can thrive.

Conclusion
Balancing multiple priorities is a year-round challenge, and the I&R industry faces particularly demanding conditions in the summer. Whether dealing with increased client demand, executing strategic projects, or maintaining employee morale, interim staff support offers the flexibility and expertise necessary to manage work more effectively.

By viewing interim staffing as a strategic asset rather than a temporary fix, businesses can capitalize on seasonal opportunities and position themselves for sustained success. As we navigate the summer months, those who embrace interim staffing are not just adapting—they’re innovating and laying the groundwork for future growth.

DGI Can Help
DGI’s interim project management and database curation services provide the benefits of flexibility needed to address seasonal peaks, planned or unexpected absences, and special projects. Temporary staff can seamlessly fill gaps without the long-term commitment associated with permanent hires, allowing businesses to scale their workforce up or down as needed and ensure optimal resource allocation during fluctuating demand periods.