What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have ChatGPT set up to help you find specific community resources for complex family needs — acting as a smart search assistant that helps you identify the right resource categories, know what questions to ask providers, and document your referral process.
What you'll need
- A ChatGPT account at chat.openai.com (free)
- A Google Doc or Word document to save useful resource information
- Time needed: 20 minutes to set up your resource system; 5–10 minutes per resource search
- Cost: Free
How-To Guide: Build a Personal Case Resource Library with AI
Step 1: Set up your resource-finding system
Create a Google Doc called "Resource Reference — [Your County]." This will be your personal resource library that you build over time, with AI helping you find what you need.
Open ChatGPT. Start with this setup:
"I'm a child welfare caseworker in [county/city name, state]. I frequently need to find community resources for families. I'll describe what a family needs and you'll help me figure out: (1) what type of resource to look for, (2) what organizations typically provide it in my area, (3) key questions to ask when I call. Ready?"
What you should see: ChatGPT confirms it understands and is ready.