El Dorado Assist combines conversational assistance with a structured directory of El Dorado County programs and services.

• Natural-language conversations: Users describe what they need in their own words rather than selecting from unfamiliar service categories.

• English and Spanish assistance: The conversation can continue in the user’s preferred language.

• Community-based searching: Recommendations consider the user’s area of the county and whether a program appears to serve that community.

• Multiple-need support: The assistant can help with connected needs such as food, housing, transportation, healthcare and utility assistance during the same conversation.

• Focused recommendations: The assistant normally presents a small number of potentially useful resources and explains why each may be relevant.

• Practical follow-up questions: It asks only questions likely to improve the resource search, such as transportation limitations, scheduling needs or broad eligibility circumstances.

• Uncertainty safeguards: Missing information is identified rather than guessed, and users are encouraged to confirm important details before relying on a service.

• Resource-gap reporting: With the user’s permission, the assistant can create a non-identifying ticket when a needed resource is missing, outdated or impractical.

• Ongoing conversation: After receiving recommendations or submitting a resource ticket, users can ask about another need without restarting the intake process.

El Dorado Assist does not determine eligibility, guarantee availability, diagnose conditions or replace professional and emergency services.

Internet searches and general AI tools can provide useful information, but El Dorado Assist is designed specifically to help people navigate local resources in El Dorado County.

El Dorado Assist helps residents and community partners navigate local services more efficiently.

• Faster resource navigation: Identifies a manageable number of potentially relevant resources without requiring users to search multiple websites or lengthy directories.

• Locally focused results: Prioritizes programs serving El Dorado County and considers the community where assistance is needed.

• More practical referrals: Considers factors such as location, transportation, hours, eligibility, cost, language and accessibility.

• Consistent information: Uses a shared, structured resource directory to help participating organizations provide more consistent guidance.

• Better understanding of community gaps: Records non-identifying tickets when resources appear to be missing, outdated, unclear or inaccessible.

• Privacy-conscious assistance: Asks only for information needed to identify suitable resources and is designed to avoid collecting names and other unnecessary personal details.

• A resource directory that can improve: Feedback from residents and participating organizations can guide future research, verification and updates.

El Dorado Assist supports—not replaces—the knowledge and judgment of community organizations. Program details and eligibility should always be confirmed with the service provider.

El Dorado Assist is currently in a pilot phase. During this period, participating organizations are invited to test the assistant, evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of its responses, and help improve its resource directory.

Here are some useful ways to participate:

1. Try El Dorado Assist from a resident’s perspective.
   Ask for help as a resident might—for example, finding food, housing, transportation, healthcare, utility assistance or another community service.

2. Try it as someone assisting a resident.
   Test how EDA responds when a staff member, volunteer, caregiver, family member or community partner is helping someone else locate services.

3. Ask about services related to your organization.
   Use realistic questions that might lead someone to your programs. This can help determine whether EDA finds your organization when it should and describes its services appropriately.

4. Ask what EDA knows about your organization.
   Request a summary of the information in the EDA Knowledge Base about your organization, programs, eligibility requirements, service area, hours and contact information. Check whether the information is accurate and complete.

5. Report errors and omissions during the conversation.
   Tell EDA when information is incorrect, outdated, incomplete or unclear. You can also identify programs that are missing or services that are not being found under expected search terms.

6. Create a resource ticket when offered.
   When EDA identifies a possible directory problem, it may ask whether you would like to create a non-identifying resource ticket. These tickets help the project team research suggested corrections and consider them for future Knowledge Base updates. A ticket is a request for review; it does not automatically change the directory.

7. Test different wording.
   Ask the same basic question in several natural ways. Residents may not know official program names or service categories, so EDA should understand everyday terms and common descriptions of needs.

8. Evaluate whether recommendations are practical.
   Consider whether the suggested resources actually serve the stated community and whether factors such as distance, transportation, hours, cost, language, eligibility and accessibility are addressed appropriately.

9. Try follow-up questions and multiple needs.
   After receiving an answer, ask for clarification, explain why an option would not work, or introduce another need. This helps test whether EDA can refine its recommendations and continue the conversation naturally.

10. Use the “Share Your Feedback” button.
    Use the feedback button on the EDA webpage to provide general observations about accuracy, usability, tone, missing capabilities or anything else that could improve the experience. Specific examples are especially helpful.

Please protect privacy while testing

Use fictional or generalized scenarios whenever possible. Do not enter real names, exact street addresses, birthdates, medical details, case numbers or other personally identifying information. El Dorado Assist is a resource-navigation tool and should not be used for emergencies or to replace professional judgment.

Thank you for helping us evaluate and improve El Dorado Assist. Feedback from participating organizations is an essential part of building a more accurate, practical and useful community resource-navigation service.