Walter LaMendola
assists organizations with the successful direction of information technology to human purposes. He is an internationally recognized leader in applying information technology to the work of human service and behavioral health organizations. His unique combination of technical knowledge, practical experience and research skills allow him to help organizations plan and implement useful information technology infrastructure that supports human values. He is the author of four books. His clients over the past few years have included The Colorado Rural Health Telecommunications Coalition, University of Colorado, Colorado Advanced Technology Institute, Colorado Departments of Human Services and Education, US Depts. of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Justice, and Education, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Center for Mental Health Services, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health (National Institutes of Health), The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Arapahoe House, University of Denver, Denver HIV Resources Planning Council (EMA), Center for Public Policy Studies, Policy Studies, Inc., the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the State Justice Institute.Selected Accomplishments
Co-founder, Denver FreeNet A public Internet computer network that provided health information, discussion groups and prevention materials – had over 20,000 active users before the project ended.
Consultant Technical advisor for CMHS Frontier Mental Health Resource Network
Chair First international conference on human service information technologies, held in Birmingham, England, 1987. Delivered keynote for 4th such conference (June, 1996- Finland) and will speak at the 5th in Budapest, September, 1999.
Researcher Summative evaluation of model statewide information system, funded by U.S. Department of Education; evaluation of Denver AID/HIV information system.
Facilitator Colorado Rural Health Telecommunications strategic planning.
Educator Fashioned a "classroom of the future" for graduate social work education. Developer of distance learning courses and MSW program for University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work.
Software developer Produced a multimedia CD-ROM for mental health service consumers; Core Measures CD-ROM for CSAP, Outcome Evaluation software for the CSAP prevention decision support system.
Recent Books
LaMendola, Walter F., Martin, J., et al. Choices for Colorado's Future. The Colorado Trust, 1993.
Glastonbury, Bryan and Walter F. LaMendola. The Integrity of Intelligence: A Bill of Rights for the Information Age. London, Macmillan Press, Ltd. 1992.
Recent Research
LaMendola, Walter F. "Creating A Technological Vision for CSAP The Prevention Science Decision Support System." (Washington, DC, April, 1999)
LaMendola, Walter F. "An Analysis of Contemporary HIV/AIDS Reporting Systems."
LaMendola, Walter F. "An Evaluation of ACCESS Colorado," Denver, Colorado, November 1998. Available at
http://murray.aclin.org/final/Examples of Dr. LaMendola’s recent work include...
development of a multi-media, interactive software system for designing and evaluating substance abuse prevention services workshops on telemedicine applications in frontier mental health services
evaluation of participatory database design techniques with the information disadvantaged on the Internet - for the National Information Infrastructure Agency
evaluation of Colorado Information Connections - a US Dept of Education HEA IIB grant to link Colorado citizens to information and library resources.
strategic information system plan for San Mateo County Court system
technology infrastructure plan for King County District Court
technology plan for the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver
concept paper for CSAP Substance Abuse Prevention Science Decision Support System
Selected Recent Speeches
"Creating a technology vision for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention" CSAP Vision and Mission Workshop. Washington, DC. April 22, 1999.
"The Mystery and Promise of Telemental Health Services" National Council for Community Behavioral Health Conference. Atlanta, Ga, March 30, 1999.
"Expert Systems in Prevention" National Association of State Directors of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Divisions, Washington DC, March 26th, 1999.
"Telemental Health and Online Services" Behavioral Informatics Tomorrow, San Jose, California, March 20, 1999
"Information Technologies and Telemental Health Services." Institute on Frontier/Rural Telemental Health Services, American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, December 9, 1998.
"Human Centered Computing." ACLIN Advisory Board, Denver, Colorado, November 18, 1998.
"The Current Situation in Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Frontier/Rural Telemental Health Services." Institute on Frontier/Rural Telemental Health Services, WICHE, FMHSRN & the Center for Mental Health Services, Denver, Colorado, August 9, 1998.
"Thoughts about Rebuilding Communities," Summary Address, Information Technology: Resources & Tools for Community Development Conference, Atlanta, June 29,1998.
Past positions
1990 - 1992 Vice President, Research, The Colorado Trust Foundation
1984 - 1987 Professor & Director, Information Technology Center, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver
1981 - 1984 Associate Professor & Director, Allied Health Computer Laboratory, East Carolina University
1976-1981 Founder and CEO, Minnesota Research & Technology, Inc.