Skilled volunteers craft timely Tech Plan for NCPC Smart Start, initiating an influential culture shift
The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) guides and facilitates the Smart Start Network, supporting the work of local partnerships and connecting them as a statewide early childhood system. NCPC develops policy for Smart Start programs and services and ensures accountability. They support 75 Smart Start partners throughout North Carolina.
The North Carolina Partnership for Children wanted to create a comprehensive technology plan that included budgeting and streamlining operations to better position them to meet business demands. With a change in leadership of the IT Department, NCPC elected to take time to complete a tech plan to refresh their strategy and technology approach. Based on a strong recommendation, NCPC wanted to work with Apparo to improve support to their community of 75 partners and the individuals they serve.
Apparo paired the organization with a skilled volunteer team that conducted a technology assessment, identifying potential gaps, pain points, and opportunities to improve the organization’s infrastructure, operations, security, and technology policies. Skilled volunteers from Duke Energy, Deriva Energy, Hylaine, and Divergent IT Consulting worked alongside the NCPC Smart Start Executive Leaders and IT Department on this Technology Plan Community Impact Project to assess their current technology status, create a comprehensive plan, and improve long-term efficiencies. Volunteers provided the organization with this technology plan and 3-5-year roadmap, ultimately better positioning NCPC for the future.
As a result of the technology plan, NCPC anticipates many positive outcomes, including an extensive amount of time saved through streamlined processes, improved documentation, and business continuity. The team will no longer be required to spend time assessing how well technology supports business goals and operations. In addition to time savings, the organization is now positioned to align technology with their organizational strategy. Importantly, NCPC will experience a considerable amount of reduced risks through applying the project recommendations. Through actively addressing cybersecurity risks in the realms of password security, virus, and email protection, implementing security awareness and training, and more, the organization already reports experiencing a necessary culture shift. By prioritizing cybersecurity, the team anticipates more efficient and effective operations, reduced risks, and an improved ability to serve their partnering organizations. Through implementing recommendations, NCPC’s IT department is developing a more strategic and tactical approach in their processes and decision-making.
Safiyah Jackson, Chief Strategy Officer with NCPC, shares, “It was a journey; our interactions were steady and I appreciated the collegiality, honesty, and support. For us to never meet in person, this was a very pleasant experience so kudos to Apparo for recruiting good volunteers and kudos to the volunteers for the energy you brought to this work.” In reply, Duke Energy’s Zack Harris told Safiyah, “That’s the magic of Apparo” and additionally shared, “The NCPC Technology Plan project was one of the more unique CIPs I‘ve had the privilege to participate in. Being a large NC-supported nonprofit brought some new challenges and requirements; different than many of the other Apparo nonprofits I‘ve worked with, but that‘s what made this CIP rewarding and interesting. Working with NCPC proved that sometimes it’s not always about the end result, but rather the journey you take to get there”.
Thankfully this work happened right on time so NCPC could implement procedures and practices that would prevent data loss and reduce vulnerabilities. The organization now feels more confident in their technology systems, their ability to strategically fulfill their mission, and their alignment as a team. NCPC is energized and excited for this progression and the ripple effects that are anticipated from this work. Hylaine’s Craig Pilkenton shares, “Volunteering with Apparo to assist NCPC with a modern Technology Plan that helps them become more prepared for the future has been a great experience. Working with my fellow volunteers felt like we were able to give helpful, and extremely timely advice. When providing technology support, having what we were worried about actually happen is rare. So seeing it happen and knowing we were able to help NCPC respond at a critical time was a nice way to give back.”
