Folsom Firm Writes Code for Child-Welfare App

A Folsom consulting firm wrote the code for a new app that an Oregon nonprofit is touting as a more efficient way for people to easily obtain help in child-welfare cases.

Rich Foreman, principal in Folsom-based Apptology, helped write the code for an app called 211info, which provides referrals for help in child-welfare cases across Oregon and in four counties in Washington. The Oregon Department of Human Services/Child Welfare Division awarded a grant to 211info.org for development of the app. Foreman, a contributor to Techwire, worked with 211info on the code for iPhones and Androids.

“The app is a self-serve tool allows their clients to search for local resources,” Foreman said in a news release. “One of the features of the app is that it will use the user’s location by leveraging the smartphone’s GPS capabilities. The resource’s description, address, phone number and website are displayed and can also be viewed in a map view. The user can further use the smartphone’s capabilities by using tap-to-call, view their website and get turn-by-turn directions. Users can also call, email, or text the 211info team within the app for further assistance.”

Foreman said of the app, ”Adoption has been relatively easy, and 15 percent of inquiries to 211info now come from the app. A surprising base of users has been [Department of Human Services] workers.”