FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:            Karen Hawes, Lee County Human Services
             (239) 652-7930

LEE HUMAN SERVICES LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE FOR
EASY INFORMATIONAL ACCESS BY RESIDENTS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 31, 2002) – Lee County’s Department of Human Services has launched its new web site with detailed information about all of its programs, services, projects, contacts and partners.

The site is at http://dhs.lee-county.com/.

When you visit the site, you will find information on:

And you will find links to:

The site also includes the Human Services Directory Online, a joint venture with the United Way that, through an Internet database, has contact and descriptive information on 350 local human and social services organizations and agencies.  The database can be searched by agency name, geographic area, category of services needed, or keyword.  Participating agencies also can access their information to have it updated on an ongoing basis.

The site was developed by county’s contract provider of information technology services, Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), and human services staff.

Lee County Human Services provides a complement of integrated services to low-income families and disadvantaged neighborhoods, including emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling services, housing rehabilitation, neighborhood infrastructure improvements and neighborhood building, and services for the homeless.  The department employs 42 people and has a fiscal year 2003 budget of $19.5 million.