The Community Information and Mapping System (CIMS) is an infrastructure to support voluntary sector groups and community members in Ontario to do local community based research to understand and improve population health. It is a unique model in multi-agency co-operative research development, web mapping and information sharing. The cornerstone is a website featuring an on-line mapping and data portal supported by coordinated training and information sharing. The CIMS is a membership-based collaborative, where members both receive services from and contribute to the infrastructure, on research questions which they define. It is designed for urban and rural groups with limited resources, to be able to undertake research, evaluation and planning on the population health issues that matter to them. The infrastructure integrates maximum leverage of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure and other data and technology democratization supports. CIMS provides a range of supports to members including:
- On-line training sessions on doing research and using the mapping and data tools
- Monthly peer learning forums on research skills and research literacy
- Access to a limited amount of data on the non-medical determinants of health for your area
- An innovative and easy-to-use mapping website in which you can work with your own agency or community data in complete confidentiality
- One-on-one support such as consultation on design of a survey, getting access to data, working with your own data
- Tools to create research projects which are confidential to your organization or your group, such as agency evaluations
- Ability to define your own geography of interest and access the data and mapping tools at that geographic level
- Opportunities to connect with others interested in or working on similar issues
- Partnership development within the CIMS to leverage additional data of relevance to members.
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