CAMConnect closed in August 2015 due to financial difficulties and the board is actively exploring options for reviving the organization.
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CAMConnect is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of expanding and democratizing access to data and information for those who live and work in the City of Camden. The organization accomplishes this purpose in several ways: 1) Publication of neighborhood-level data via printed reports and its website. To this end, CAMConnect has produced neighborhood fact reports about all 21 Camden Census Tracts as well as a citywide "Camden Facts" report. 2) Research and preparation of original topical reports including health, employment, municipal finances, a Camden Kids Count, and voter participation. CAMConnect has recently begun to analyze patient-level hospital discharge data from local hospitals to assess patterns in emergency room utilization and identify opportunities for improvement in the healthcare system. 3) Maintaining a frequently-updated online library of public documents and other reports related to Camden, including municipal budgets and audits, redevelopment plans, and environmental reviews.
Aside from producing original data reports, CAMConnect also partners with other organizations on GIS mapping, evaluation strategies, and survey design and administration.
CAMConnect emerged from discussions between the Annie E. Casey Foundation and a broad group of local stakeholders concerning the consolidation of local data. In 1999, CAMConnect received a planning grant; a year later the Casey Foundation awarded a second grant to CAMConnect to hire an executive director and complete neighborhood-level reports. In 2002, Cooper Hospital's Department of Family Medicine became the fiscal sponsor, providing a substantial contribution of cash and in-kind services to support CAMConnect's work
CAMConnect has over 50 members that support the organization and receive training and priority for technical assistance. Members include residents, small organizations, governmental agencies, and larger institutions.
