History of MAACLink

MAAC implemented MAACLink in June 1994. The system began as a shared database of emergency assistance providers--food, utility payments, rent--and has grown into a multi-faceted system with applications across the spectrum of social services.

Because of MAACLink's invaluable assistance to the community, the database was awarded a 1999 "Best Practice" award from HUD. In 2003, the Kansas City Homeless Coalition honored MAAC with the Alice G. Walker Award for Community Collaboration.

MAACLink has a proven ten-year history of serving the information-gathering and sharing needs of social service agencies serving low-income citizens. The software adapts to collect information about recipients, programs, services, and funds for any social service provider. Essential confidentiality safeguards are built into the system.

The MAACLink software is owned by Mid America Assistance Coalition (MAAC), with usage rights assigned to participating agency staff. MAAC provides initial Citrix user domain and licensing, on-site training of agency personnel and a help desk that can remotely assist or control a user's session.

MAACLink stretches limited resources. Using MAACLink, agencies have access to a database of clients and their services, shared with other MAACLink users in their community. This information-sharing across geographic and political boundaries creates a "virtual social service agency" in a community. Having this information means:

  1. Unnecessary duplication of services is eliminated
  2. Eligibility for certain services is immediately verified,
  3. Limited assistance resources are stretched to meet the needs of the greatest number of eligible clients,
  4. Information about unmet needs is captured,
  5. Reports on services, programs, and outcomes can be easily generated, and
  6. Comparative data can evaluate the community's response to the needs of low-income citizens.

    Recently MAACLink has been recognized by the national consulting firm Walter R. McDonald & Associates “because it demonstrates one of the only multi-jurisdictional homelessness prevention approaches with a coordinated network of providers linked to one comprehensive database.”