| HELP/TUTORIAL
BROWSE BY AGENCY:
Your best bet when you know the agency you're
looking for.
Click on the first letter of the agency name
(skipping the word "The") and scroll down the list to
find it. Keep in mind that agency names that begin with a number
are grouped under the # symbol. A click on any agency name will
give you an address and phone number, any available details, and
a list of the programs it offers.
BROWSE BY SERVICE CATEGORY:
A great way to browse and learn about the different
kinds of services out there.
We've used a nationally accepted classification
system to categorize each program entered into our database (For
more information on this system, A Taxonomy of Human Services: A
Conceptual Framework with Standardized Terminology and Definitions
for the Field, please click on our User Policy and Advisory page.)
If you are finding that a search on a term you frequently use is
not yielding any results - or if the results returned seem to indicate
a different definition of this term - you may want to try browsing
these categories to find what you are looking for. The dictionary
icon located next to each term will give you a better idea of the
kinds of services found in each category and subcategory.
SEARCH BY PROGRAM OR KEYWORD:
A quicker way to get results.
Typing a word, name, or phrase into the text
field on the Main Search Page will give you a list of matching programs,
after you click the "Go!" button. As indicated on this
page, you may enter the official name of a program (such as "WIC"
or "Head Start"), or it may be a more generic term (such
as "After School" or "HIV Counseling").
BROWSE BY TARGET GROUP:
Get a list of all the programs in Philadelphia
directed towards a given target population.
If you are having any difficulty discovering
the kinds of programs that will meet the needs of a particular client,
then browsing these target groups may help with some ideas. In many
cases, the programs of a certain agency will be designed for very
specific target populations. The classification system we used to
organize programs by service category also provided terms and definitions
for a wide variety of target groups. When you are browsing through
this section, simply click on the terms which best describe your
clients. The results may list some appropriate support services
you had not previously considered. Please keep in mind that we only
use target group classifications when they are directly specified
by the provider agency.
DO A COMBINED SEARCH:
For the most focused and specific results possible.
On this page, you have the ability to combine
up to four search criteria. You may search here by:
- Keyword
You may enter a keyword here that best describes the type
of service you are looking for, i.e. "After School",
"Mental Health", "Child Care",
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- Target Group
Not all target groups are available from this list - we
have limited it to those most commonly used. You may only
choose one selection per search. Choosing "No Preference"
will eliminate this criterion from your search.
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- Language
These will only return programs that have been identified
as offering services in another language (besides English).
Choosing "No Preference" will eliminate this criterion
from your search.
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- Zip code
This will limit your search to those programs located in
a particular Philadelphia zip code.
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Remember: the more criteria
you choose in your search, the more limited your results will be.
If you use all four, there is a chance that your search will not
yield any results. This does not necessarily mean that appropriate
resources are not out there! In this case, you may want to go back
to this page and eliminate one of the criteria.
RESULTS PAGES:
Here's what to do when you get your results.
Once you reach a results page, you will see a
number in the top right corner which indicates the total number
of records returned. If there are more than 10 results, the next
results will be broken down on additional pages in groups of 10
each. Scrolling down to the bottom of the page will allow you to
click the "Next" arrow to continue browsing the results,
or you may select a certain page from the numbered list of pages.
On most results pages, you will also be able to filter the results
by zip code.
In addition, you may want to use the Select
Program function to create a printable list for yourself or your
clients! While scrolling through the results, check the left-hand
box next to any given program you are interested in. This will begin
a list for you, which will be saved as you scroll from page to page.
When you are finished, click on the button on the right-hand side
of the screen entitled "VIEW Selected Programs". You will
get a printer-friendly page that lists the name, address, and phone
number of each program you selected. To clear this list and begin
again, click "CLEAR Selected Programs."
Help Screen for Search Online for Services
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