MAVEN
Background and Challenge
A 2021 study by Dr. Lyles, Dr. Nguyen, and colleagues showed how social determinants—like access to food, healthcare, education, and community support—drive disparities in chronic disease. Conversely, neighborhood resources such as food pantries, parks, and financial assistance can improve outcomes. UCSF’s Center for Vulnerable Populations and Streetwyze initiated MAVEN to help community-based organizations (CBOs) connect underserved populations with vital local resources, based on factors like location, age, gender, and language, with recommendations from others in similar situations.
SOM Tech joined the team to design and develop a digital tool that would empower CBO leaders, strengthen community trust, and ensure equitable access to resources.
Co-creating with Community Members
The Center and Streetwyze were already engaging community members in their San Francisco neighborhoods to understand how they navigate local resources. During the pandemic, we expanded this work through remote interviews using mailed packets and guided exercises to explore participants’ technology use and environments. Role-playing and “digital adventure” activities revealed technology barriers and inequities, shaping our problem statement and inclusive personas and prompting a shift: rather than delivering a tool directly to individuals, MAVEN would be embedded within community leaders’ workflows.
The goal became clear: enable CBO leaders to curate and share resource collections that celebrate neighborhood strengths, while leveraging trusted relationships to increase adoption and credibility.
Magic Phone exercise in the packet
Digital Adventure activity booklet
Validating Ideas with Real Users
We wireframed a digital tool and tested it through semi-structured usability interviews with a clickable prototype. Feedback highlighted two essentials: simplicity—community leaders juggle multiple systems—and accurate, up-to-date content, which is crucial for trust and adoption.
Wireframe for testing
Shaping the First Solution
The initial iteration, built on Salesforce with Twilio integration, allowed CBOs to text resources directly to people, reaching participants even without computer access.
We learned a lot from our first iteration: remote interviews are challenging, accurate content and ease of use are essential, and every decision must keep participants and users at the center. None of this would have been possible without our incredible community partners. Here are a few of their reflections:
“You should build the time and infrastructure from the beginning to prioritize these groups.”
“Our tactics all kind of tie back to listening, patience, and being flexible. This is what’s needed to have underrepresented voices be part of this process.”
Insights from the first iteration informed the next phase, now led by Dr. Palmer and Dr. Harrison. Full-day sessions with CBO leaders and promotoras—who work directly with farmworkers—in Fresno and the Central Valley explored how a tool could best support their work. With Spanish translators, participants co-designed solutions through role-playing, brainstorming, and discussions around ownership, maintenance, and potential challenges.
Connecting the Central Valley
Brainstorming exercise
Designing Together
Co-design of tool and feature prioritization
My Work
Created remote design kits—Magic Phone, Digital Adventure, and Likes & Dislikes—and uncovered participant preferences in content, style, and media
Worked in close collaboration with stakeholders—CVP, Streetwyze, and others—to align goals and impact
Conducted a literature review
Led participatory sessions with community members to gather insights
Synthesized research findings into key themes
Reviewed and provided feedback on wireframes
Facilitated large-group workshops with CBO leaders and promotoras (community health workers), integrating co-design, role-playing, and collaborative brainstorming
Outcomes and Impact
Dr. Lyles received a National Library of Medicine grant to support a four-year MAVEN study. Participating CBOs accessed the tool for free and were compensated for tracking use and joining interviews. Feedback helped refine MAVEN, ensuring it met the needs of both organizations and community members.
A 2022 paper by Nguyen, Lyles, and colleagues documented the challenges MAVEN users face—chronic disease, disabilities, economic stress, unsafe neighborhoods, and limited social support—while highlighting resilience and the tool’s potential. The study underscored that holistic approaches to social determinants of health, supported by digital tools, can meaningfully prevent and mitigate health disparities.
The Central Valley solution continues to evolve as stakeholders refine priorities, adjust recommendations, and plan for long-term ownership, ensuring MAVEN remains responsive to community needs.
Literature: Applying a Socioecological Framework to Chronic Disease Management