Hi Folks
Here is another option to consider. Demo dates coming up in Calgary.
PLEASE post a comment and let everyone know what you are doing to work on the question of what you will do if or when CORI fades into the sunset.
Mike Boyes
Greetings:
Correlate, a Canadian solution, is an online web-based service that helps non-profit organizations efficiently maintain data and generate reports and electronic exports allowing them to save time and effort. More information on Protegra’s Correlate service (hosted in Canada) can be found in the following link: http://www.protegra.com/Docs/ProtegraCorrelate.pdf.
Protegra collaborates with clients to help them achieve a higher level of performance through management consulting and software development. One of our major focus areas is the not-for-profit sector. More information on Protegra’s non-profit practice can be found in the following links:
• http://www.protegra.com/Practices/NonProfit.aspx / http://www.protegra.com/CaseStudy/NonProfitCase.aspx
Wednesday April 21, 2010 - two sessions are being offered at The Kahanoff Centre; #200 - 1202 Centre Street SE
• 8:00am to 9:30am
• 10:00am to 11:30am
This is an Open House event available to all non-profit interested in replacing HOMES and/or those in need of a Client Tracking and Case Management System.
While we are in Calgary, we will provide also be providing a Correlate demo to The United Way (on Tuesday April 20th).
** Please send RSVP as soon as possible to reserve a seat **
Email the following information to: RSVP@Protegra.com or call Jade Anne at 1-866-956-2727
• Organization Name:
• Contact Information:
o Name:
o Email:
o and/or phone number:
• Names of attendees
• Select session to attend:
o 8:00am to 9:30am
OR
o 10:00am to 11:30am
* Please let us know if you are interested in a one on one session/meeting. Understanding your needs is our priority.
Kind Regards,
Diego
________________________________
Diego Beltrán
Principal Consultant
Dir. Line: 204.488.5692
Mobile: 204.292.9639
Toll-free: 1.866.956.2727
Protegra
Business. Technology. Solutions.
67 Scurfield Boulevard
Winnipeg, MB R3Y 1G4
Fax 204.477.9421
www.protegra.com
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
ShareVision
Hi All,
Here is another PS announcment regarding a system to consider as a replacement for CORI/Homes. As before let me remind you that this is for information only and by no means constiitutes an endorsement opf the system featured.
BY the way, send Us a note and tell the comunity how your search for a Post Cori existance is proceeding.
I would love to hear from you!
Mike Boyes
We've been talking to a lot of agencies, large and small, who are considering all their options in replacing HOMES. Already, we've helped more than a dozen groups to successfully move their information, and custom-fit ShareVision for their needs.
ShareVision hosts regular on-line sessions, dubbed ShareVision 101, which are free to attend and require only a web-browser in order to watch live, hands-on demonstrations of how the software works. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, including a dedicated portion toward the end of each session, ensuring that the presenter covers areas of interest to everyone there. The goal of these often lively sessions is to allow teams considering ShareVision among their options to find out more in a convenient, friendly environment, with no cost or obligation. You can choose to just watch and listen in, or join the conversation and ask your own questions. (Voice access is available via your computer, or by telephone with a toll-free number we'll send you.)
The next ShareVision 101 is scheduled for 10:00 AM PDT (11:00 AM MDT, 12:00 CDT, 1:00 PM EDT) Click here (http://www.sharevision.ca/Lists/ShareVision%20101/NewForm.aspx?Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esharevision%2Eca%2FThankyou%2Easpx) to receive an invitation by e-mail, which includes all the information you need to join the session. (E-mail: info@sharevision.ca, or toll free 1-866-971-4325)
If you would prefer a private presentation for your group, we are glad to arrange that. But you are also welcome to attend this public session as well if you like.
The date of the next ShareVision 101 is Wednesday, March 24 (at 10 AM Pacific Daylight Time). Details are found at www.sharevision.ca - and the link to sign up is there too.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers,
Sven Brindley
Co-founder, Director of Strategic Planning
ShareVision
sven@sharevision.ca
toll free 1 866 971 4325 ext 111
Here is another PS announcment regarding a system to consider as a replacement for CORI/Homes. As before let me remind you that this is for information only and by no means constiitutes an endorsement opf the system featured.
BY the way, send Us a note and tell the comunity how your search for a Post Cori existance is proceeding.
I would love to hear from you!
Mike Boyes
We've been talking to a lot of agencies, large and small, who are considering all their options in replacing HOMES. Already, we've helped more than a dozen groups to successfully move their information, and custom-fit ShareVision for their needs.
ShareVision hosts regular on-line sessions, dubbed ShareVision 101, which are free to attend and require only a web-browser in order to watch live, hands-on demonstrations of how the software works. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, including a dedicated portion toward the end of each session, ensuring that the presenter covers areas of interest to everyone there. The goal of these often lively sessions is to allow teams considering ShareVision among their options to find out more in a convenient, friendly environment, with no cost or obligation. You can choose to just watch and listen in, or join the conversation and ask your own questions. (Voice access is available via your computer, or by telephone with a toll-free number we'll send you.)
The next ShareVision 101 is scheduled for 10:00 AM PDT (11:00 AM MDT, 12:00 CDT, 1:00 PM EDT) Click here (http://www.sharevision.ca/Lists/ShareVision%20101/NewForm.aspx?Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esharevision%2Eca%2FThankyou%2Easpx) to receive an invitation by e-mail, which includes all the information you need to join the session. (E-mail: info@sharevision.ca, or toll free 1-866-971-4325)
If you would prefer a private presentation for your group, we are glad to arrange that. But you are also welcome to attend this public session as well if you like.
The date of the next ShareVision 101 is Wednesday, March 24 (at 10 AM Pacific Daylight Time). Details are found at www.sharevision.ca - and the link to sign up is there too.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers,
Sven Brindley
Co-founder, Director of Strategic Planning
ShareVision
sven@sharevision.ca
toll free 1 866 971 4325 ext 111
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
More word on CORI's future from Muttart
I had a conversation today with Bob Wyatt, the ED of the Muttart Foundation, and I have a bit more information about options or at least about the scope of options and the time frame they are going to look at them in.
First a few facts that emerged from the conversation:
As mostknow HOMES is owned 50/50 by Hull Homes and Muttart
They are not currently inclined to simply hand the system
over to those that would like to run it on their own.
They would want a licensing fee and they are currently
trying to figure out what that might look like.
The board at CORI is still meeting and is considering
options as is the board of Hull AND the Muttart board.
Bob tells me that they have had a number of people
and groups approach them with various concepts to
keep a version of HOMES going.
The HOMES system is built in old technology that is
VERY cumbersome to change. Even changing the spelling
of a single heading can take hours as compared to
minutes with the newer programming systems.
What pulled HOMES down was a failure of a plan to
rebuild it from the ground up
in a modern language. (Lots of Money!).
So what’s up? Well the deal to keep it running
until August is intended to give all comers until
June to get proposals and pitches together so they can take
them to all the boards and see what flies.
Among the options are:
Several commercial Venders are looking at
pitching a takeover.
The CORI board itself is looking at a new business
plan where they drop training entirely and just run
the database (price point to be worked out).
Several “large charitable organizations” are looking
at contributing to the re-build if they can get a 1/3
interest in the result.
An off-shore company has offered to do the rebuild as
long as they get full rights to use and sell in perpetuity.
Bottom line is that these options will all be
stewed over and out to the boards in June so that
what will be can be by August (or whenever they need to
extent it to make it work.
My advice at this point is to let them duke it out and see what rises out of the ashes. We can still look at other systems but we do not need to decide tomorrow.
Any Thoughts?
What are you looking at in the way of systems??
Mike Boyes
Mike Boyes
First a few facts that emerged from the conversation:
As mostknow HOMES is owned 50/50 by Hull Homes and Muttart
They are not currently inclined to simply hand the system
over to those that would like to run it on their own.
They would want a licensing fee and they are currently
trying to figure out what that might look like.
The board at CORI is still meeting and is considering
options as is the board of Hull AND the Muttart board.
Bob tells me that they have had a number of people
and groups approach them with various concepts to
keep a version of HOMES going.
The HOMES system is built in old technology that is
VERY cumbersome to change. Even changing the spelling
of a single heading can take hours as compared to
minutes with the newer programming systems.
What pulled HOMES down was a failure of a plan to
rebuild it from the ground up
in a modern language. (Lots of Money!).
So what’s up? Well the deal to keep it running
until August is intended to give all comers until
June to get proposals and pitches together so they can take
them to all the boards and see what flies.
Among the options are:
Several commercial Venders are looking at
pitching a takeover.
The CORI board itself is looking at a new business
plan where they drop training entirely and just run
the database (price point to be worked out).
Several “large charitable organizations” are looking
at contributing to the re-build if they can get a 1/3
interest in the result.
An off-shore company has offered to do the rebuild as
long as they get full rights to use and sell in perpetuity.
Bottom line is that these options will all be
stewed over and out to the boards in June so that
what will be can be by August (or whenever they need to
extent it to make it work.
My advice at this point is to let them duke it out and see what rises out of the ashes. We can still look at other systems but we do not need to decide tomorrow.
Any Thoughts?
What are you looking at in the way of systems??
Mike Boyes
Mike Boyes
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Counselling Trac - Records Management for Counselling Professionals
THis was added as a commewnt to an early post so I have brought it forward as a post. As with other system descriptions, please provide any thoughts or commetns you may have regarding this system in comments attached to this post.
Mike
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Being evicted from your HOMES? Martech Solutions Incorporated can help!
Let us tell you about the Counselling Trac Software system - records management for Counselling Professionals (www.counsellingtrac.com).
Counselling Trac is a fully secured, Internet-based information management system designed for Counsellors and mental health professionals. It provides Counsellors with a simplified and affordable system for managing client information, documenting progress and outcomes, monitoring case load and Counsellor productivity, scheduling, and recording group counselling information.
The Counselling Trac Software system is suitable for non-profit agencies, accredited programs, private practice Counsellors, and more! The subscription fee for Counselling Trac is $30.00 per month, with no annual user fees.
The Features of Counselling Trac Include:
- Secure information available over the World Wide Web
- Daily data back-up
- Secure and reliable storage of data
- Ability to maintain up-to-date client lists
- Simplified method for documenting client sessions
- Uniform printing of case notes and reports for file maintenance
- Include your company/agency logo on all printed material
- Maintain organized group information
- Collaborative environment where user needs and requests for application enhancements are welcomed and frequently utilized
- Easy to configure to your specific program requirements
Please visit our website for information on Features, Security, Flash Demonstrations, Screen Shots, and More!
www.counsellingtrac.com
250.938.4937
Mike
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Being evicted from your HOMES? Martech Solutions Incorporated can help!
Let us tell you about the Counselling Trac Software system - records management for Counselling Professionals (www.counsellingtrac.com).
Counselling Trac is a fully secured, Internet-based information management system designed for Counsellors and mental health professionals. It provides Counsellors with a simplified and affordable system for managing client information, documenting progress and outcomes, monitoring case load and Counsellor productivity, scheduling, and recording group counselling information.
The Counselling Trac Software system is suitable for non-profit agencies, accredited programs, private practice Counsellors, and more! The subscription fee for Counselling Trac is $30.00 per month, with no annual user fees.
The Features of Counselling Trac Include:
- Secure information available over the World Wide Web
- Daily data back-up
- Secure and reliable storage of data
- Ability to maintain up-to-date client lists
- Simplified method for documenting client sessions
- Uniform printing of case notes and reports for file maintenance
- Include your company/agency logo on all printed material
- Maintain organized group information
- Collaborative environment where user needs and requests for application enhancements are welcomed and frequently utilized
- Easy to configure to your specific program requirements
Please visit our website for information on Features, Security, Flash Demonstrations, Screen Shots, and More!
www.counsellingtrac.com
250.938.4937
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
HOMES DATABASE TO REMAIN AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST
Below is the text of a press release just put out jointly by Bob Wyatt, the ED of the Muttart Foundation and George Ghitan, CEO of Hull Child and Famioly Services (developers and co-owners of the HOMES system).
Please keep sending me the names of database systems you are looking at and I will see what I can find to post about them.
Mike Boyes
The HOMES database will remain available to existing clients until August 31, 2010.
George Ghitan, Board chair of the Canadian Outcomes Research Institute (CORI) and Bob Wyatt, CORI’s vice-chair, said the extension of service was made possible as a result of further support from The Muttart Foundation.
“We have heard from a number of clients since the announcement of CORI’s demise,” they said. “We appreciated the expressions of sympathy and of goodwill. We also heard very clearly of the problems that would be created because of the proposed March 31 termination of the HOMES database.
“The Muttart Foundation’s Board of Directors has agreed to provide additional funding to allow the database to be kept operational until August 31. We are grateful for that support and glad that we can provide some additional breathing space to users of the database.”
Because a number of HOMES users are funded on a government fiscal year, they would be entering data until March 31. Termination on that date would make it difficult for them to complete their year-end data entry, and impossible for them to download the data they require for their reports to funders.
Ghitan and Wyatt said they have been contacted by a number of organizations with proposals about the HOMES database. In some cases, commercial firms are seeking to find ways to transfer data from the HOMES database to their own software. Other suggestions have included different ways for the HOMES database to continue to be owned and operated within the nonprofit sector.
Some agencies have expressed concerns about the costs of moving to other software, particularly in a time of major concern about the possibility of further funding reductions.
CORI has not endorsed any alternative product, and will not do so. Users of the HOMES database will need to make their own assessments of products offered to them and of the costs of those products.
The extension to August 31 will also allow CORI’s Board of Directors to examine other options to continue to serve agencies which have relied on HOMES to assess their achievement of outcomes and to improve the quality of their service.
“We cannot yet promise what the future will hold,” said Ghitan and Wyatt. “We will explore the suggestions and options we have received and consider other options. We will keep users advised of developments as they occur.”
It is clear, however, that CORI cannot continue in the form in which it existed before November 30, 2009. Because of termination of funding arrangements by other funders, there are not adequate resources to operate in the same way. Other options may be possible, but need to be explored in greater detail.
The additional funding from The Muttart Foundation will allow CORI to maintain one IT staff member as well as the staff member who operates the help line. This limited staffing model will not allow for any significant changes to the operation of the database. Any improvements would depend on some other arrangements being established. Whether that can happen is still not clear.
Additional information will be sent to users when it is available.
George Ghitan Bob Wyatt
CEO Executive Director
Hull Child & Family Services The Muttart Foundation
January 20, 2010
Please keep sending me the names of database systems you are looking at and I will see what I can find to post about them.
Mike Boyes
The HOMES database will remain available to existing clients until August 31, 2010.
George Ghitan, Board chair of the Canadian Outcomes Research Institute (CORI) and Bob Wyatt, CORI’s vice-chair, said the extension of service was made possible as a result of further support from The Muttart Foundation.
“We have heard from a number of clients since the announcement of CORI’s demise,” they said. “We appreciated the expressions of sympathy and of goodwill. We also heard very clearly of the problems that would be created because of the proposed March 31 termination of the HOMES database.
“The Muttart Foundation’s Board of Directors has agreed to provide additional funding to allow the database to be kept operational until August 31. We are grateful for that support and glad that we can provide some additional breathing space to users of the database.”
Because a number of HOMES users are funded on a government fiscal year, they would be entering data until March 31. Termination on that date would make it difficult for them to complete their year-end data entry, and impossible for them to download the data they require for their reports to funders.
Ghitan and Wyatt said they have been contacted by a number of organizations with proposals about the HOMES database. In some cases, commercial firms are seeking to find ways to transfer data from the HOMES database to their own software. Other suggestions have included different ways for the HOMES database to continue to be owned and operated within the nonprofit sector.
Some agencies have expressed concerns about the costs of moving to other software, particularly in a time of major concern about the possibility of further funding reductions.
CORI has not endorsed any alternative product, and will not do so. Users of the HOMES database will need to make their own assessments of products offered to them and of the costs of those products.
The extension to August 31 will also allow CORI’s Board of Directors to examine other options to continue to serve agencies which have relied on HOMES to assess their achievement of outcomes and to improve the quality of their service.
“We cannot yet promise what the future will hold,” said Ghitan and Wyatt. “We will explore the suggestions and options we have received and consider other options. We will keep users advised of developments as they occur.”
It is clear, however, that CORI cannot continue in the form in which it existed before November 30, 2009. Because of termination of funding arrangements by other funders, there are not adequate resources to operate in the same way. Other options may be possible, but need to be explored in greater detail.
The additional funding from The Muttart Foundation will allow CORI to maintain one IT staff member as well as the staff member who operates the help line. This limited staffing model will not allow for any significant changes to the operation of the database. Any improvements would depend on some other arrangements being established. Whether that can happen is still not clear.
Additional information will be sent to users when it is available.
George Ghitan Bob Wyatt
CEO Executive Director
Hull Child & Family Services The Muttart Foundation
January 20, 2010
What should we be looking for in an information management system?
The answer to this question is potentially complicated but it doesn’t have to be. First a little history. If you look back over the past 10 to 15 years you will see that programs have experienced a HUGE shift in how they manage their data. You may have noticed that checkers at food markets are no longer just entering prices and calculating your total food bill but rather are now essentially entering all the data needed to electronically manage store inventory (that’s why they need the code and not just the price when the tag has fallen off an item you are trying to buy!). In a similar fashion, social agencies are now needing to go well beyond a simple head count of the clients they serve, or a set of paper file that can be reviewed once and a while for research purposes.
Excel sheets provide some functionality but are seriously limited (especially as they are located on a single computer and can only be worked on by one staff member at a time. 10 Years ago, if agencies had computers they were likely castoffs, donated from businesses and already dated. The past decade has seen a huge jump in the general availability of new computers within agencies along with current editions of software and reliable internet access. This has opened the door to companies developing and marketing (usually internet based) information management systems for use by social agencies. It is my opinion, based on my 15 years experience as a program evaluator, that there was an unfortunate disconnect in those early system development years between agency and program capacity and the range of information management systems available. Specifically, funding organizations got the word early in the game that they were about to face a large number of requests from programs and agencies for funding to support the development, implementation and related training involved in constructing their own information management systems.
To head off those potentially large costs funders responded to the early pitches they got from system developers (like CORI/HOMES) by buying into the sort of internet based “kitchen sink” information management systems as a way of providing functionality to programs without having to pay for them program by program. While this sort of solution worked very well for funders, and, truth be told, for some agencies and programs as well, it effectively slammed on the development of data management capacity within programs and agencies. It fostered a disconnect between the management of one’s own program data and the meeting of funders’ data requirements. Instead of seeing agency staff go from developing basic computer literacy and embracing it as part of their work and then moving on to program information literacy and the ownership not only of one’s data but of the capacity to reflect upon and to use that data as a central part of practice and program development, program staff tended to feel quite alienated from the data management process often being unclear as to the purposes behind much of the data collection and system entry they were engaged in. Likewise agencies that could have been collaborating in their data management strategies and working toward painting big picture views of specific populations and sub-populations they were jointly serving were limited to having quiet side discussions about what they did not like about the latest funder requirement or CORI/Homes development. The opportunity to grow towards a strong ownership position in relation to one’s own programs process and outcome data was missed by many many programs as a result of the top-down process taken by the dominant information management enterprises.
So, the demise of CORI/HOMES provides a challenge but it also provides a huge opportunity for programs and agencies to take steps to expand their information management capacity and ownership and essentially catch up to where their computer hardware and software makes it possible for them to be in terms of their control of their own data, outcome models and future planning. With this in mind I would like to offer a few suggestions about how agencies and programs can utilize this powerful capacity building opportunity.
First, at a minimum develop a simple plan from getting your data out of CORI/HOMES. While it may well be that the CORI/Homes system may continue to be available after the proposed March 31 cessation date I bet you would feel better if you knew your data was safe on one (or better 2 or three ) of your own hard drives while you work out just what sport of solution you will utilize for meeting your information management needs.
Second, conduct an audit of the information management needs all of your programs and agency activities. What information do you HAVE to collect, want to collect, or wish you could collect. What do you need to know about your programs to run them and monitor the practices within them? What outcome indicators do you collect or should you collect? What information do your funders require (and pay particular attention to the form they want that information in, for example, what age breakdowns do they want your client data reported by)? Be sure and think a bit about what information you might want if you think it is important to be able to relate your program activities to a particular sector of the population in your community. For example, what information would you need to be able to talk about the proportion of a particular immigrant population your program has contact t with or what proportion of the urban aboriginal population your program connects with?
Third, consider, through talking to other programs staff, reading this blog, or enlisting the assistance of a consultant (who can discuss things from YOUR perspective) what level of sophistication you would most benefit from in an information management system. What sorts of things would it need to do to address your information management needs? What sorts of reports will your require? How much access to basic data would you like to have (as that access will allow you to engage in more detailed planning and to ask more questions about your program dataset and history)? What expertise in terms of data management and exploration do you have in house? What capacity would you like to move towards through staff training, strategic hiring and/or collaboration with other programs gathering data similar to your own?
Fourth, have a look some of the available information management systems and see which ones look like they would meet your needs. Again this blog site may be of assistance in this regard but you can also talk to other agencies about what they are considering and why.
Some things to consider when looking at the information management systems out there include:
Cost - get a clear picture of the costs both of access to the system and any additional, one time transition costs.
Longevity – does it look like the system and its related support will be around for a while? Keep in mind that if you take advantage of this opportunity to develop some in program capacity in this area the prospect of potentially having to change to another system down the road will be far less daunting. If the system you use is a tool allowing you to accomplish your information management goals then your understanding of that process will make it easier to pick up a new tool down the road if the one you are using is no longer supported or meeting your needs.
Security – while any system looking for social service clients would be foolish not to ensure that program data is secure and names are safe it is worth conforming that this is true.
Customizability or “Locally Friendly” functionality – One of the biggest drawbacks of the CORI/Homes system was that there was a LOT of functionality on the site that was irrelevant to any particular program or user – a whole forest when all you needed was a tree or two. Ideally, each user (and each program even within a larger agency) would only see in the system, the functionality they need (according to the information management audit you conducted as suggested above). This level of essential simplicity (only seeing that which you actually need) will greatly reduce your training costs and will usually make it possible for you to conduct most of your staff training in-house without having to wait for or to pay for the services of a trainer associated with the developer of your information system.
Reporting Functionality and Report Development Potential – Does the system provide you with the ability to supervise the quality of the data your staff is entering into the system? Does it produce the reports you regularly require simply by setting a date range and clocking the appropriate button? Does it provide you with opportunities to “play with” your data? That is, what about those times where as you reflect upon your program and its activities and where questions occur to you that can be answered by data you know you have been collecting but for which there is not currently a report for getting it out of the system. Can you download relevant data top excel sheets and muck around with it or do you have to request and then pay for a programmer to do it for you?
Aggregation – Does the system allow you to roll youir data up across the programs that you manage?
Sharability - How easy would it be to pull information out of your system and compare it to similar information from other programs’ systems (for regional planning purposes or service coverage discussions)?
Future Development – If you add programs or program components how much work will it be to build the necessary changes into your information system? Could you do it yourself or would you need to toss another big chunk of development money at the system developer?
Of course, there are many other potential issues to consider but these give you a place to start. Please feel free to add any additional criteria in the comments section below this post or feel free to take issue with my suggestions regarding process. As always, the more discussion that is generated about these challenges and opportunities the better the transion to a different information management system will go.
Mike Boyes
Excel sheets provide some functionality but are seriously limited (especially as they are located on a single computer and can only be worked on by one staff member at a time. 10 Years ago, if agencies had computers they were likely castoffs, donated from businesses and already dated. The past decade has seen a huge jump in the general availability of new computers within agencies along with current editions of software and reliable internet access. This has opened the door to companies developing and marketing (usually internet based) information management systems for use by social agencies. It is my opinion, based on my 15 years experience as a program evaluator, that there was an unfortunate disconnect in those early system development years between agency and program capacity and the range of information management systems available. Specifically, funding organizations got the word early in the game that they were about to face a large number of requests from programs and agencies for funding to support the development, implementation and related training involved in constructing their own information management systems.
To head off those potentially large costs funders responded to the early pitches they got from system developers (like CORI/HOMES) by buying into the sort of internet based “kitchen sink” information management systems as a way of providing functionality to programs without having to pay for them program by program. While this sort of solution worked very well for funders, and, truth be told, for some agencies and programs as well, it effectively slammed on the development of data management capacity within programs and agencies. It fostered a disconnect between the management of one’s own program data and the meeting of funders’ data requirements. Instead of seeing agency staff go from developing basic computer literacy and embracing it as part of their work and then moving on to program information literacy and the ownership not only of one’s data but of the capacity to reflect upon and to use that data as a central part of practice and program development, program staff tended to feel quite alienated from the data management process often being unclear as to the purposes behind much of the data collection and system entry they were engaged in. Likewise agencies that could have been collaborating in their data management strategies and working toward painting big picture views of specific populations and sub-populations they were jointly serving were limited to having quiet side discussions about what they did not like about the latest funder requirement or CORI/Homes development. The opportunity to grow towards a strong ownership position in relation to one’s own programs process and outcome data was missed by many many programs as a result of the top-down process taken by the dominant information management enterprises.
So, the demise of CORI/HOMES provides a challenge but it also provides a huge opportunity for programs and agencies to take steps to expand their information management capacity and ownership and essentially catch up to where their computer hardware and software makes it possible for them to be in terms of their control of their own data, outcome models and future planning. With this in mind I would like to offer a few suggestions about how agencies and programs can utilize this powerful capacity building opportunity.
First, at a minimum develop a simple plan from getting your data out of CORI/HOMES. While it may well be that the CORI/Homes system may continue to be available after the proposed March 31 cessation date I bet you would feel better if you knew your data was safe on one (or better 2 or three ) of your own hard drives while you work out just what sport of solution you will utilize for meeting your information management needs.
Second, conduct an audit of the information management needs all of your programs and agency activities. What information do you HAVE to collect, want to collect, or wish you could collect. What do you need to know about your programs to run them and monitor the practices within them? What outcome indicators do you collect or should you collect? What information do your funders require (and pay particular attention to the form they want that information in, for example, what age breakdowns do they want your client data reported by)? Be sure and think a bit about what information you might want if you think it is important to be able to relate your program activities to a particular sector of the population in your community. For example, what information would you need to be able to talk about the proportion of a particular immigrant population your program has contact t with or what proportion of the urban aboriginal population your program connects with?
Third, consider, through talking to other programs staff, reading this blog, or enlisting the assistance of a consultant (who can discuss things from YOUR perspective) what level of sophistication you would most benefit from in an information management system. What sorts of things would it need to do to address your information management needs? What sorts of reports will your require? How much access to basic data would you like to have (as that access will allow you to engage in more detailed planning and to ask more questions about your program dataset and history)? What expertise in terms of data management and exploration do you have in house? What capacity would you like to move towards through staff training, strategic hiring and/or collaboration with other programs gathering data similar to your own?
Fourth, have a look some of the available information management systems and see which ones look like they would meet your needs. Again this blog site may be of assistance in this regard but you can also talk to other agencies about what they are considering and why.
Some things to consider when looking at the information management systems out there include:
Cost - get a clear picture of the costs both of access to the system and any additional, one time transition costs.
Longevity – does it look like the system and its related support will be around for a while? Keep in mind that if you take advantage of this opportunity to develop some in program capacity in this area the prospect of potentially having to change to another system down the road will be far less daunting. If the system you use is a tool allowing you to accomplish your information management goals then your understanding of that process will make it easier to pick up a new tool down the road if the one you are using is no longer supported or meeting your needs.
Security – while any system looking for social service clients would be foolish not to ensure that program data is secure and names are safe it is worth conforming that this is true.
Customizability or “Locally Friendly” functionality – One of the biggest drawbacks of the CORI/Homes system was that there was a LOT of functionality on the site that was irrelevant to any particular program or user – a whole forest when all you needed was a tree or two. Ideally, each user (and each program even within a larger agency) would only see in the system, the functionality they need (according to the information management audit you conducted as suggested above). This level of essential simplicity (only seeing that which you actually need) will greatly reduce your training costs and will usually make it possible for you to conduct most of your staff training in-house without having to wait for or to pay for the services of a trainer associated with the developer of your information system.
Reporting Functionality and Report Development Potential – Does the system provide you with the ability to supervise the quality of the data your staff is entering into the system? Does it produce the reports you regularly require simply by setting a date range and clocking the appropriate button? Does it provide you with opportunities to “play with” your data? That is, what about those times where as you reflect upon your program and its activities and where questions occur to you that can be answered by data you know you have been collecting but for which there is not currently a report for getting it out of the system. Can you download relevant data top excel sheets and muck around with it or do you have to request and then pay for a programmer to do it for you?
Aggregation – Does the system allow you to roll youir data up across the programs that you manage?
Sharability - How easy would it be to pull information out of your system and compare it to similar information from other programs’ systems (for regional planning purposes or service coverage discussions)?
Future Development – If you add programs or program components how much work will it be to build the necessary changes into your information system? Could you do it yourself or would you need to toss another big chunk of development money at the system developer?
Of course, there are many other potential issues to consider but these give you a place to start. Please feel free to add any additional criteria in the comments section below this post or feel free to take issue with my suggestions regarding process. As always, the more discussion that is generated about these challenges and opportunities the better the transion to a different information management system will go.
Mike Boyes
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
HMIS Hud Sponsored Homeless Managaement Information Systems
This webpage (http://www.hmis.info/Software/)contains links to a large number of companies that have created information systems to manage program data. While focussed on the management of data relating to programs targetting homelessness, the listed systems often go much further.
There is too much information here for single comments to be particualrly informative but if you happen to see a system you are familair with please add a comment and I will pull it up and make it a post to get the information out.
Mike Boyes
There is too much information here for single comments to be particualrly informative but if you happen to see a system you are familair with please add a comment and I will pull it up and make it a post to get the information out.
Mike Boyes
ETO Software Social Solutions
One of the bigger players out there in the social agency database area appears to be Social Solutions which runs the ETO (Efforts to Outcomes) web-based solution. Their website has a lot of information on it (www.socialsolutions.com).
Tomorrow, Wednesday January 20, they are running an on-line webinar about their database package. The information about how to joing in that webinar is below:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Welcome!
The webinar starts January 20th at 11am MST.
You can start logging into the webinar 10 minutes before the hour.
To join, please follow these directions:
Join the Webinar
1. Go to: https://socialsolutions.webex.com/socialsolutions/onstage/g.php?d=712987232&t=a
2. Login using the event password: January20
3. Your call-in information that is provided below will pop up on the screen when you enter the webinar
Call-in Information
1. Dial 866-699-3239 (toll free). The backup phone number is 1-408-792-6300
2. Enter the event number 712 987 232
If you have questions about our Efforts to Outcomes (ETOTM) software or about accessing the webinar, please contact:
Katelyn Bradley
Director of Sales and Implementation
d: 443.460.3416
c: 801.597.1658
e: kbradley@socialsolutions.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you have any experience using this system please post a comment. Also, any information about pricing would also be appreciated (I recall hearing that they charge a percentage of gross agency budget but have not seen that in writing).
Mike Boyes
Tomorrow, Wednesday January 20, they are running an on-line webinar about their database package. The information about how to joing in that webinar is below:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Welcome!
The webinar starts January 20th at 11am MST.
You can start logging into the webinar 10 minutes before the hour.
To join, please follow these directions:
Join the Webinar
1. Go to:
2. Login using the event password: January20
3. Your call-in information that is provided below will pop up on the screen when you enter the webinar
Call-in Information
1. Dial 866-699-3239 (toll free). The backup phone number is 1-408-792-6300
2. Enter the event number 712 987 232
If you have questions about our Efforts to Outcomes (ETOTM) software or about accessing the webinar, please contact:
Katelyn Bradley
Director of Sales and Implementation
d: 443.460.3416
c: 801.597.1658
e:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you have any experience using this system please post a comment. Also, any information about pricing would also be appreciated (I recall hearing that they charge a percentage of gross agency budget but have not seen that in writing).
Mike Boyes
Monday, January 18, 2010
From the CANFIT team!
From the CANFIT team!
Over the past week, we’ve been fielding many questions from concerned organizations over the planned closure of the HOMES database. We would like to take this opportunity to assure everyone that we will do everything in our power to make sure that your organization can continue to tell your story after March 31, 2010. As promised, we are sending out this email to help answer some of your questions, and hopefully prompt you to contact us so that we can provide you with a demonstration of what the CANFIT philosophy is all about.
What is the CANFIT Philosophy?
The CANFIT Philosophy is the idea that each non-profit organization is unique, and has a unique story to tell. This takes involvement from everyone in your organization to help document the important role you play in the community, and the effect you have on your clients’ lives. To do this, Dignity Computer Solutions has developed the CANFIT Database System which is a customized, easy to use database which generates reports for funders such as the United Way, FCSS, ECALA, Health Canada, Alberta Education, Region 6 etc.
Why is Customization So Important?
Think about how much your organization has changed over the past few years. Your role has grown, your staff has changed, and your funders have changed their requirements. Your database should:
- Be easy to use: Databases which are easy to use ensure that your staff enjoy using your database, and will make sure that information is kept current
- Be responsive to feedback: Your database developer should schedule regular meetings to get your feedback, and implement regular changes.
- Be responsive to changing reporting requirements: Your reports should be easy to generate, and be run regularly so that there are no surprises when your reports are due. It should be possible to pool and report upon aggregate data from similar agencies.
Will CANFIT Track Everything We Need?
Yes, out of the package, CANFIT tracks:
- Client demographics such as Ethnicity, Aboriginal Status, Marital Status, Education Level, Financial Status / Financial Assistance etc.
- Contact notes which let you document your contact with a client along with any referrals made. You can also indicate which of your agency success indicators that the contact satisfies.
- The barriers that your client comes in with, and how your work with them helps overcome those barriers, by helping them set and achieve goals. Again, this links up with your logic model.
- Tracking of pre and post surveys. The responses to these surveys can be tracked for improvement, and how they relate to success indicators in your logic model.
- Activity registration and attendance tracking. Over any date range, unique participants and attendance percentages can be reported on.
- Quality control which allow you to find missing or inconsistent data.
- Reminders so that your staff can set up follow up and monitor client progress
- Volunteer Tracking, including timesheets
- Resource library tracking
- An administration module which helps you enter in your logic model, set up your staff and security permissions, and customize drop down boxes to make data entry easy and consistent
- A community relations module which allows you to track specific funding requirements from your funders, and how they map to your database. The community relations module also allows you to send out broadcast emails, track donations, and send out letters of appreciation.
That’s just the starting point! Those are just the common things that most agencies need. After that, we work with your agency to make sure that your unique requirements are tracked, and that your unique story is told. After everything is set up and tested, on-line help and video tutorials are made available to staff.
How Well Established Is CANFIT?
In one form or another, CANFIT has been in service since 1999. Over the past few years, we’ve worked towards perfecting the database to make sure that people know that CANFIT users are happy users. CANFIT is not dependant on any government funding, and conforms to the business practice of permanent, professional computer support guaranteed by Dignity Computer Solutions.
Although most of our clients are in Edmonton, DCS also has clients in Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge, Regina, Saskatoon and even as far away as Charlottetown and Ann Arbour Michigan.
What Are The Costs Of CANFIT?
It’s often been said that you get what you pay for. DCS offers a fixed monthly contract based on average number of hours and visits. We try to keep costs low by helping groups of similar agencies at a time, but it’s not free. Contracts range between $250 - $700 / month. We’ve never turned away a client because of lack of funds, if effort and co-operation is present (something which makes our company unique). We also require your time in the form of regular meetings, and testing of new features.
For those of you looking for a very simple solution, and a transfer of HOMES data into a format which you can use, we are developing CANFIT Lite which will be licensed for $50/month, with a $75/hr set up fee for importing data from CORI.
What Are The Next Steps?
Contact Us! Fill out the attached pdf document and send it back to us so that we can learn more about your requirements. Our fax number is 1-866-421-4329. If you have any questions about our company, or CANFIT, feel free to contact Lynn Crawford, Cathie Black, or Raj Lamba at 1-800-979-4525. We’ve become quite busy these days, but promise to get back to you on a first come first serve basis. We hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Raja S. Lamba, President
Dignity Computer Solutions
220, 9939 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2X4
Phone: (780) 429-4525
Toll Free: 1-800-979-4525
Fax: 1-866-421-4329
Over the past week, we’ve been fielding many questions from concerned organizations over the planned closure of the HOMES database. We would like to take this opportunity to assure everyone that we will do everything in our power to make sure that your organization can continue to tell your story after March 31, 2010. As promised, we are sending out this email to help answer some of your questions, and hopefully prompt you to contact us so that we can provide you with a demonstration of what the CANFIT philosophy is all about.
What is the CANFIT Philosophy?
The CANFIT Philosophy is the idea that each non-profit organization is unique, and has a unique story to tell. This takes involvement from everyone in your organization to help document the important role you play in the community, and the effect you have on your clients’ lives. To do this, Dignity Computer Solutions has developed the CANFIT Database System which is a customized, easy to use database which generates reports for funders such as the United Way, FCSS, ECALA, Health Canada, Alberta Education, Region 6 etc.
Why is Customization So Important?
Think about how much your organization has changed over the past few years. Your role has grown, your staff has changed, and your funders have changed their requirements. Your database should:
- Be easy to use: Databases which are easy to use ensure that your staff enjoy using your database, and will make sure that information is kept current
- Be responsive to feedback: Your database developer should schedule regular meetings to get your feedback, and implement regular changes.
- Be responsive to changing reporting requirements: Your reports should be easy to generate, and be run regularly so that there are no surprises when your reports are due. It should be possible to pool and report upon aggregate data from similar agencies.
Will CANFIT Track Everything We Need?
Yes, out of the package, CANFIT tracks:
- Client demographics such as Ethnicity, Aboriginal Status, Marital Status, Education Level, Financial Status / Financial Assistance etc.
- Contact notes which let you document your contact with a client along with any referrals made. You can also indicate which of your agency success indicators that the contact satisfies.
- The barriers that your client comes in with, and how your work with them helps overcome those barriers, by helping them set and achieve goals. Again, this links up with your logic model.
- Tracking of pre and post surveys. The responses to these surveys can be tracked for improvement, and how they relate to success indicators in your logic model.
- Activity registration and attendance tracking. Over any date range, unique participants and attendance percentages can be reported on.
- Quality control which allow you to find missing or inconsistent data.
- Reminders so that your staff can set up follow up and monitor client progress
- Volunteer Tracking, including timesheets
- Resource library tracking
- An administration module which helps you enter in your logic model, set up your staff and security permissions, and customize drop down boxes to make data entry easy and consistent
- A community relations module which allows you to track specific funding requirements from your funders, and how they map to your database. The community relations module also allows you to send out broadcast emails, track donations, and send out letters of appreciation.
That’s just the starting point! Those are just the common things that most agencies need. After that, we work with your agency to make sure that your unique requirements are tracked, and that your unique story is told. After everything is set up and tested, on-line help and video tutorials are made available to staff.
How Well Established Is CANFIT?
In one form or another, CANFIT has been in service since 1999. Over the past few years, we’ve worked towards perfecting the database to make sure that people know that CANFIT users are happy users. CANFIT is not dependant on any government funding, and conforms to the business practice of permanent, professional computer support guaranteed by Dignity Computer Solutions.
Although most of our clients are in Edmonton, DCS also has clients in Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge, Regina, Saskatoon and even as far away as Charlottetown and Ann Arbour Michigan.
What Are The Costs Of CANFIT?
It’s often been said that you get what you pay for. DCS offers a fixed monthly contract based on average number of hours and visits. We try to keep costs low by helping groups of similar agencies at a time, but it’s not free. Contracts range between $250 - $700 / month. We’ve never turned away a client because of lack of funds, if effort and co-operation is present (something which makes our company unique). We also require your time in the form of regular meetings, and testing of new features.
For those of you looking for a very simple solution, and a transfer of HOMES data into a format which you can use, we are developing CANFIT Lite which will be licensed for $50/month, with a $75/hr set up fee for importing data from CORI.
What Are The Next Steps?
Contact Us! Fill out the attached pdf document and send it back to us so that we can learn more about your requirements. Our fax number is 1-866-421-4329. If you have any questions about our company, or CANFIT, feel free to contact Lynn Crawford, Cathie Black, or Raj Lamba at 1-800-979-4525. We’ve become quite busy these days, but promise to get back to you on a first come first serve basis. We hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Raja S. Lamba, President
Dignity Computer Solutions
220, 9939 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2X4
Phone: (780) 429-4525
Toll Free: 1-800-979-4525
Fax: 1-866-421-4329
Athena Software: UPdated POST!
I have received an updated post regarding the Athena Software as well as an announcement that they will be in Edmonton later this month. Check it out below
Mike Boyes
Athena Software will be attending the Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families show in Edmonton next week January 25-26. Please stop by and find out what Athena can do for you and your agency.
Personal online demonstrations are available. Let us know what day and time works best to discuss your needs and we will provide a real time demonstration of our web based integrated case management software.
Contact Dana Fox Director Business Development
dana@athenasoftware.net 866 806 6014 x303
Athena Software Transitions Social Service Agencies using CORI
Athena Software, Waterloo Region December 22 2009 ...Athena Software makes it easy for agencies using Homes/ CORI software to transition to a Canadian web based, integrated case management software. Athena Software is an affordable case management solution that can be customized by the agency. We make it easy to migrate data from CORI and provide templates that reflect current Homes data sets.
Athena Software (http://www.athenasoftware.net) one of the world’s leading providers of integrated, web based, client management solutions for health and human services, is set to deliver case management technology to all CORI / Homes users. Athena Software provides robust security settings for each worker using the server based technology. System administrator customization using agency friendly wizards, enables each agency to set up multiple locations, programs and funders while maintaining sophisticated networking and security roles.
Dana Fox, “mailto:dana@athenasoftware.net” Director of Business Development, Athena Software said, “Athena makes it easy to use standard or customized surveys with each service event and report on this activity using over 100 built in query based reports, excel spread sheets and data sets for SPSS, SAS and Crystal Reports. This innovative approach to collecting outcomes makes it easy to show others how an agency is making a difference and adding value.” Fox went on to say that,“Speaking with Bob Wyatt at the Muttart Foundation, a major funder of CORI, it is clear that Athena share’s the same vision for delivering affordable case management software that includes an outcomes evaluation component.” Athena Software clients range in size from single user practitioners to large agencies with 100’s of staff on the system at the same time. There are no extra modules to purchase and everything is included making it easy to turn modules on or off as the agency requirements change.
Athena Software can be installed on a client server or a hosted model. It’s your choice. It’s affordable and we only charge for staff that need to be on the system at the same time. Online demonstrations provide real time experience with the software before you purchase. Let us know what day and time works best for you and your staff and we will set up your personal demonstration. Find out how little it costs for case management software that does so much and deploys in days by calling us now.
Media Contact:
Dana Fox, Director of Business Development
At h e n a S o f t w a r e
519.500.9251
866.806.6014 x303
dana_fox Skype
dana@athenasoftware.net
318 Duke Street West Kitchener, Ontario N2H 3Y1
Athena Software
about athena software.net Athena software is one of the world's most powerful and fully integrated case management and client information solutions designed for counseling, mental health centres and EAP providers. Athena helps its customers reduce operating costs, increase efficiency and improve customer service by integrating human resources, notes, outcome evaluation and billing into one system. Athena solutions combine decades of combined experience with the power of server based open source database technology. Athena gives the power to innovate and customize the system back to the customer without the cost. We make systems integration easy and affordable for people helping others.
United Nations Global Compact Member
www.athenasoftware.net
Mike Boyes
Athena Software will be attending the Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families show in Edmonton next week January 25-26. Please stop by and find out what Athena can do for you and your agency.
Personal online demonstrations are available. Let us know what day and time works best to discuss your needs and we will provide a real time demonstration of our web based integrated case management software.
Contact Dana Fox Director Business Development
dana@athenasoftware.net 866 806 6014 x303
Athena Software Transitions Social Service Agencies using CORI
Athena Software, Waterloo Region December 22 2009 ...Athena Software makes it easy for agencies using Homes/ CORI software to transition to a Canadian web based, integrated case management software. Athena Software is an affordable case management solution that can be customized by the agency. We make it easy to migrate data from CORI and provide templates that reflect current Homes data sets.
Athena Software (http://www.athenasoftware.net) one of the world’s leading providers of integrated, web based, client management solutions for health and human services, is set to deliver case management technology to all CORI / Homes users. Athena Software provides robust security settings for each worker using the server based technology. System administrator customization using agency friendly wizards, enables each agency to set up multiple locations, programs and funders while maintaining sophisticated networking and security roles.
Dana Fox, “mailto:dana@athenasoftware.net” Director of Business Development, Athena Software said, “Athena makes it easy to use standard or customized surveys with each service event and report on this activity using over 100 built in query based reports, excel spread sheets and data sets for SPSS, SAS and Crystal Reports. This innovative approach to collecting outcomes makes it easy to show others how an agency is making a difference and adding value.” Fox went on to say that,“Speaking with Bob Wyatt at the Muttart Foundation, a major funder of CORI, it is clear that Athena share’s the same vision for delivering affordable case management software that includes an outcomes evaluation component.” Athena Software clients range in size from single user practitioners to large agencies with 100’s of staff on the system at the same time. There are no extra modules to purchase and everything is included making it easy to turn modules on or off as the agency requirements change.
Athena Software can be installed on a client server or a hosted model. It’s your choice. It’s affordable and we only charge for staff that need to be on the system at the same time. Online demonstrations provide real time experience with the software before you purchase. Let us know what day and time works best for you and your staff and we will set up your personal demonstration. Find out how little it costs for case management software that does so much and deploys in days by calling us now.
Media Contact:
Dana Fox, Director of Business Development
At h e n a S o f t w a r e
519.500.9251
866.806.6014 x303
dana_fox Skype
dana@athenasoftware.net
318 Duke Street West Kitchener, Ontario N2H 3Y1
Athena Software
about athena software.net Athena software is one of the world's most powerful and fully integrated case management and client information solutions designed for counseling, mental health centres and EAP providers. Athena helps its customers reduce operating costs, increase efficiency and improve customer service by integrating human resources, notes, outcome evaluation and billing into one system. Athena solutions combine decades of combined experience with the power of server based open source database technology. Athena gives the power to innovate and customize the system back to the customer without the cost. We make systems integration easy and affordable for people helping others.
United Nations Global Compact Member
www.athenasoftware.net
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