Local Services Mapping
Local Services Mapping (LSM) is a community-driven planning process that helps communities identify and address the social services needs of families.
At its essence, LSM is an example of communities helping themselves - a cost-effective process that brings about real progress for communities.
LSM engages key stakeholders - social service providers and funders across the NGO sector, iwi, and local and central government - and helps move funding and development from talk to action that can make a measurable difference for families and communities.
LSM enhances local relationships, stimulates networking and cooperation, provides a forum for reaching informed consensus on how best to focus effort, and enables families to receive better coordinated services.
Through facilitated discussions, stakeholders identify priority areas of concern to the community and agree on an action plan that is based on producing measurable improvements in community outcomes.
A results-focused approach to community consultation, LSM gives social services providers a framework to provide coordinated local services to families and communities. Over time, this will help the social services sector to make more efficient use of resources, and streamlines access to services.
LSM is 'owned' by local communities and facilitated by the Ministry of Social Development's Family and Community Services. It is carried out in partnership with local government, with an expectation that it will feed into Long Term Council Community Plans.
