Frequently Asked Questions (by human service organizations)
about CANY
Q. Who runs CANY?
A. The New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA) supports and operates the Community Assets NY website on behalf of its
members and their local partners. Local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) coordinate and manage CANY
utilization in their area and encourage local partners to register with CANY.
Q. Why Should I utilize CANY?
A. CANY is a valuable resource for you to use in your service area because it can:
1. Position your organization as a "gateway" provider of a free, comprehensive, and valuable Services and Programs Directory
2. Enhance your relationships with other human services organizations, governments, and other leaders in your region
3. Automate your resource referrals; enable people to refer themselves to your organization and other helping
organizations in your area
4. Reinforce your role as a truly comprehensive community services provider
Q. How do I sign up my organization as a participant in this important project?
A. Register online via the “register” button on the CANY home page. Qualified
organizations will be contacted via email with a confirmation and password to use the system. When
verified, your organization’s contact information will automatically be entered into the “Yellow Pages”
section of the site. You may subsequently choose to add your service and program data to the
“Search for Programs and Services” section, your volunteer opportunities to the “Volunteer Center”
section and your organization’s community events to the “Community Calendar” section.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. There's no charge for listing CAAs or other Health and Human Services organizations.
However, each local CANY user including you will need to designate a person known as a "CANY
Coordinator" to enter and update data and serve as an administrative contact on the project. Depending
upon how much data is entered and how active an organization chooses to be as a "gateway" to the
CANY database for its community partners, additional staff time may be needed. If this is a concern
at your organization, NYSCAA would be pleased to discuss your need for data entry or other
support. Contact us by clicking here.
Q. Can I have multiple staff members enter data?
A. The system allows an authorized local CANY Coordinator to designate other local
users and system "managers." These users and managers can be assigned different types of access to the
system. For example, some users may be permitted only to post events to the calendar. Other users who
are managers may be permitted to post specific project information and details.
Q. How much training is required for a user to become proficient and be able to train community partners?
A. It is easy to enter information in CANY. After exploring the system a bit, you
will understand CANY better; on-screen instructions aid you in entering information. Manuals, a
users guide, and advertising templates are available for distribution to your organization and community
partners. NYSCAA provides training and technical assistance in areas of the state for interested
organizations.
NYSCAA anticipates two training phases. The first will be a one-hour introductory presentation
to explain the system, purpose, uses, etc. The second will be a hands-on "How to Use the System" training
that will last approximately two hours. The initial introductory presentation can be to large audiences but
the "hands-on" training should be in smaller groups; The larger the "hands-on" session is, the longer the
training should take.
Q. How can organizations with no information technology (IT) staff participate?
A. Organizations do not need an IT person to enter data into CANY. A person with limited
computer or Internet knowledge will be able to enter information. The system is user-friendly with simple
drop-down menus. Step-by-step instructions are also built into the system. Of course, a computer with
access to the Internet would be needed.
Q. Who do I contact for additional information?
A. Community Action Agencies needing additional information should feel free to
Contact Us. Other local
community organizations interested should contact their local Community Action Agency. Locate your local
organization’s contact information by first clicking on the “Yellow Pages” section of CANY. In the
first orange box, check the checkbox beside “Community Action Agency”. Then check the box beside your
county. Click the search button. Your local Community Action Agency should be displayed. If there is
not an active Community Action Agency involved in CANY in your area,
Contact Us for further information.
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