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November 12, 2004Santa Clara Youth Activity Center Enhances Security with STOPware's PassagePoint Visitor Management Solution.San Jose, CA (November 12, 2004) – There is nothing more important to a parent than the safety and well-being of their child, and across the country schools, churches, local communities and state and federal agencies are implementing policies and practices to help improve child safety measures. While many of these procedures involve old-fashioned common sense, there is a growing reliance on technology to provide a safe environment – like using security cameras on the streets, metal detectors in the schools or capturing and storing visitor information at public or private facilities. And these security precautions become even more valuable when integrated into an overall first alert plan. City Facility Builds on Existing TechnologySuch is the case with the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Santa Clara in California’s Silicon Valley, which coordinates the leisure services for more than 107,000 local residents. PassagePoint visitor management software was installed at the city’s Youth Activity Center (YAC) campus, including a 20,000 square foot facility, the skateboard park and Teen Center. A photo ID system was already in place and the new software, integrated with the ID system, gave the department the capability to immediately verify, capture and store all entry and exit information from the facilities into a single, unified system. “Tracking our participants is important – especially when they are minors,” said Rose Partolan, office manager for the Santa Clara Youth Activity Center. “Parents want to know where their children are and with PassagePoint we are able to tell them immediately if the child is on site and where he or she is.” It’s been a series of continual upgrades at the YAC, as attendance grew and security became more essential. Originally, photo ID cards were produced manually (instant camera photo with information typed onto a card and then laminated) and when participants entered the facility, they surrendered their cards which were then filed alphabetically in a box and returned when the participant exited. “The process was very labor intensive and the potential for error and disgruntled customers kept increasing,” said Partolan. As the volume of participants grew to over 1500 in the database, with approximately 250 participants a day at the three facilities, the YAC took their next step by implementing a computer check-in ID system. Improved Control and AccessWith the new computerized system, registered participants were issued a card that included a barcode with a unique ID number. To gain entry to one of the three sites, one needed to simply swipe the card through the reader at one of the check-in points. Exiting was the reverse procedure of swiping the card at an exit point. In the event of a lost or forgotten card, Partolan added participants could also be checked in and out manually. “We invested a lot of money in this new card system and were very pleased with the results. It sped up the entry process and allowed us better control in ensuring that only Santa Clara residents are using the facilities.” Programs offered by the YAC include classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers; after-school programs for elementary, middle and high school students; special events such as live concerts for high school age participants; and summer camps. New Software Ties It All TogetherAs Partolan stated, the computerized check-in system resolved the problems with entry and exit verification and sped up the process, but it still did not allow for a recorded or historical audit of who was coming and going, when they were coming and going, and why they were coming and going. “If a child was late in arriving home and a parent called and wanted to know what time their teenage daughter had left the Teen Center, we couldn’t tell them because we didn’t know.” A phone call to Image Sales of Walnut Creek, California, and an authorized reseller of PassagePoint systems, provided Partolan with the remedy to this dilemma and even included a few extra benefits she and the administrative staff of Parks and Recreation were not expecting. PassagePoint software offers a completely integrated visitor management security solution including badging, web pre-registration, photo capturing, directory link integration and access control integration. Keeping Track of Vital Information<As a community-funded facility, analysis and reporting is a mandatory function of the administration and management of the Santa Clara recreation site and PassagePoint software helps make this task easier and more comprehensive. Partolan notes attendance information on programs, events and individuals is reported monthly and from this audit they are able to more quickly respond to the needs of the community or identify potentially harmful situations such as overcrowding. “We installed PassagePoint because we needed a better method of tracking our participants. The customized reporting function is an added bonus that has benefited staff and participants alike.” For more information visit www.stopware.com, email info@stopware.com, or call (408)367-0220. STOPware, Inc. is a privately-held, investor-owned software company established in 1997 that specializes in visitor badging and lobby security software. STOPware's flagship product, PassagePoint, is a complete lobby security package, spanning needs from basic visitor badging through high-level security. PassagePoint and the STOPware logo are trademarks of STOPware, Inc. Contact: SuEllen Sterling |
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