If there’s one thing we’ve gained expertise with since founding GovWebworks in 2016, it’s building portals for connecting citizens to resources. From CiviServ SaaS portals to custom directories, we have accumulated a considerable volume of experience with resource portal implementations.
Citizen resource portals bridge the gap between public services and their users, cutting across agency silos, reducing complexity for both citizens and staff, and enabling access when physical offices are impractical. A unified citizen portal simplifies service access for users and agencies by integrating disparate systems into a single, accessible interface. Ultimately, citizen portals facilitate service discovery, public communications, and program engagement to help people in need, when and where needed.
We focus on rich UI and UX innovations, such as means testing, geo-mapping and place-based search, to make these portals more effective. CiviServ, our SaaS product, enhances citizen-agency interactions by allowing users to save favorites, share recommendations, and seamlessly transition to further services. It also supports diverse communication protocols and advanced search options, such as eligibility-driven recommendations and natural language processing.
The following projects highlight some of our best work in this space:
Idaho
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Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: Live Better Idaho Portal
Live Better Idaho (LBI) gave citizens inter-departmental access to available programs and services in one consolidated location. The solution enabled search of programs and providers by name, location, specialty, capacity, and related public benefit program. Developed using the CiviServ Saas platform, LBI addressed the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s challenge of limited public awareness about state programs and services. The portal consolidated access to various resources, simplifying the process for citizens to discover programs through guided searches and personalized content. Administrators benefited from powerful tools for content publication, integration, and analytics. Implemented swiftly as a SaaS solution, the portal provided accessibility to critical services like healthcare, nutrition, and child care, creating a user-friendly, “no wrong door” experience.
Maine
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United Ways of Maine: 211 Maine Service Directory
GovWebworks collaborated with United Ways of Maine to enhance the 211 Maine online service directory for statewide programs and resources, improving usability and design to better connect citizens with local assistance programs. Addressing challenges such as confusing navigation, incomplete listings, and overwhelming search interfaces, the team conducted user research through interviews, focus groups, and call center observations. Funded by the Maine Community Foundation, the resulting improvements included a mobile-responsive, ADA-accessible platform with simplified search options, plain language filters, geolocation capabilities, and direct links to services. These updates not only streamlined the user experience but also reengaged service providers, ensuring a more effective and inclusive resource for the community.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services: StrengthenME Portal
The StrengthenME Resource Portal, developed by GovWebworks for Maine DHHS, supports disaster-induced stress recovery through a centralized online hub. Funded by FEMA and SAMHSA, it connects users to stress management tools, mental health services, and employment support. Features include customizable assessments, resume tools, virtual career fairs, training opportunities, and service recommendations. Integrated with 211 Maine, the responsive, ADA-compliant platform enhances access to statewide resources while supporting future growth and expansion. By guiding users to appropriate services, the StrengthenME portal strengthens Maine’s mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
Partners for the Common Good: CapNexus Portal
Partners for the Common Good (PCG), a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), engaged our team to modernize their CapNexus platform—a web-based clearinghouse connecting capital seekers with socially minded entrepreneurs, developers, and officials. Using Drupal, we delivered a redesigned, mobile-responsive, and 508-compliant platform featuring streamlined stakeholder account creation integrated with Salesforce, controlled-access networking forums, enhanced content publication tools, and rule-driven campaign automation. Launched in 2016, the updated CapNexus system improved user experience, facilitated networking, and boosted administrative efficiency, earning positive feedback from users and stakeholders alike. The new portal serves as a brokerage platform for prospective investment opportunities directed towards underserved communities.
UNE Center for Excellence in Health Innovation: You Are Prevention Portal
GovWebworks collaborated with the University of New England’s Center for Excellence in Health Innovation (CEHI) to create You Are Prevention, a web and mobile resource designed to combat substance abuse in Maine. Partnering with the Maine DHHS and Maine CDC under the Maine Prevention Services Program, the project aimed to empower citizens with tools for initiating conversations about substance abuse and accessing localized resources. Built using Drupal and PhoneGap, the solution features a flexible, mobile-first design offering prevention tips, clinically accurate information, and a resource index. Launched in 2017, the portal and app provide accessible, cost-effective support, reflecting a community-driven approach to substance abuse prevention.
Minnesota
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Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development: CareerForce Workforce Development Portal
GovWebworks partnered with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to create the CareerForceMN workforce development portal, funded by a $6 million federal Workforce Innovation Grant. Designed to support job seekers, employers, workforce staff, and community partners, the platform consolidates employment services, training resources, and labor market data into a user-friendly, dynamically tailored system. Built on our Drupal-based CiviServ SaaS framework, the portal integrates state and federal systems like O*Net and Career One Stop to provide personalized career guidance based on user profiles and assessments. Launched in 2018, CareerForceMN continues to evolve, with enhancements such as advanced labor market integrations, a chatbot to guide users in navigating the portal’s many resources, and interactive tools to better serve Minnesota’s diverse workforce needs.
Minnesota Office of Higher Education: MyHigherEd Portal
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) partnered with GovWebworks to create MyHigherEd, a comprehensive resource portal designed to help students, parents, and educators navigate higher education options in Minnesota. Built with Drupal, the portal enables users to search postsecondary institutions, compare programs, calculate costs, and explore career outcomes using data from OHE and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Powerful search filtering provides evaluation and comparison of institutions on the basis of numerous essential characteristics (eg. acceptance standards, program availability, student body, location, residential accommodations, activities, financial costs, scorecard ratings, graduation rates, average graduate salaries, etc.). Personalized features, including a chatbot and tailored financial aid insights, guide users in reaching their educational goals. Administrators benefit from robust data management tools, while the portal’s compliance with accessibility standards ensures usability for all. Additionally, integration with Microsoft Dynamics supports automated marketing, engagement tracking, and user profile synchronization, further enhancing outreach and engagement.
New Hampshire
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New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: The Doorway Opioid Response Portal
GovWebworks collaborated with New Hampshire’s Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services (BDAS) to develop The Doorway Opioid Response Portal, a centralized resource to address the state’s significant opioid crisis by providing programs and resources that would support individuals facing substance abuse challenges. Funded by a SAMHSA State Opioid Response Grant, the portal consolidates previously disparate resources under “The Doorway” program, connecting users to treatment, recovery support, overdose reduction, and prevention services. Built with Drupal, the portal offers role-based browsing and filtration of available offerings based on situational factors, as well as guided navigation, geo-search capabilities, and links to community resources, faith-based organizations, and 211 services.
Washington
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Washington Department of Social and Health Services: HHS Portal
GovWebworks partnered with Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to develop a central website and resource portal offering need-based browsing of available statewide HHS programs. By implementing Drupal as the CMS, the project established a scalable platform to unify over 13,000 web pages from more than a dozen sub-agencies. The redesign focused on clear navigation, organizational consistency, and alignment with the needs of Washington’s citizens, ensuring a user-friendly and consistent experience. Completed in just six months, the project was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, setting the foundation for future service integrations and improved online reach for DSHS programs.
Washington Public Disclosure Commission: Public Access Portal
GovWebworks partnered with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission to redesign their website into a modern, user-friendly public access portal focused on increasing transparency in campaign finance and lobbying activities. Migrating from a proprietary CMS to Drupal, the project introduced a streamlined, activity-focused information architecture and color-coded design, making complex data more accessible. Robust search powered by Solr and integration of external data sources allowed users to easily find campaign finance details. Launched in April 2016, the ADA- and 508-compliant portal enhanced public access to political activity information while enabling the Commission to manage and update content efficiently, supporting its commitment to open government principles.
Learn more
- Resource Portal Case Studies: GovWebworks
- Citizen Engagement Services: GovWebworks
- Contact GovWebworks to learn more about citizen resource portals
