In this Issue:
Housing and Homelessness
System Performance Measures, Data Quality Framework results, Point in Time and Housing Inventory Count data will all be due to HUD via the HDX this spring. We recommend that you begin reviewing the data soon to get ahead of the process!
Information and Referral
Have you heard about 211Counts.org? 211Counts.org provides real-time searchable data from 2-1-1 contact centers across the country. Working with local 2-1-1 contact centers, this application provides community snapshots and regional trend visualizations. 211Counts.org also provides U.S. Census data for the selected region. Many ServicePoint customers are already participating. Mediware Housing and Community Services can help you link your ServicePoint resource data to this national database. For more information, submit a case to your Customer Care Analyst via the Mediware Customer Community.
Learn more about 211Counts.org here.
Development News
ServicePoint 6
We will open a two-week ServicePoint 6 Feedback Period beginning March 12, 2018. Thank you to everyone who has requested to participate. We will be reviewing the requests and making the final list of participants over the next week. Notifications and further instructions will be sent by March 9, 2018. We will conduct a Webinar overview of the system and provide guidance on how best to provide us your valuable feedback at 11:00 AM CST on Monday, March 12, 2018.
We intend to provide additional feedback opportunities. Our next Feedback Period will most likely be after Boot Camp, May 15-16, 2018. Watch your email and future editions of The NEWSWIRE for more information and date announcements.
Qlik Sense
We continue making significant enhancements to Qlik Sense. Customer sites will be updated overnight on March 5 and the updates will be available on March 6, 2018. This release update will include:
- Worksheet Field objects for Calls and Services
- Several Calendar improvements
- Updated Table Joins
We are continuing to work on a long-term solution for user-friendly Assessment and Sub-assessment objects. Unfortunately, we encountered some unexpected delays during our testing this week. However, we didn't want to delay the release of the features noted above. We will provide more information on our progress with Assessment data improvements as we are able over the next several weeks.
A mandatory Qlik Sense upgrade was implemented on February 22, 2018. This upgrade corrected several Qlik Sense known issues, resolved some performance issues, and launched new Visualization types and options. We hope you are as excited as we are to explore these improvements! Detailed changes will be documented in the Qlik Sense Release Notes.
Lessons from the Experts: March 7th Qlik Sense Coffee Call
Join us for a Qlik Sense Coffee Call on March 7, 2018 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST. Our experts will discuss the features and improvements released in the January 26, 2018 and March 6, 2018 Qlik Sense updates. The call will be recorded for those unable to attend. Please use the following link to register for the Coffee Call:
System Performance Measures
All the required System Performance Measure reports are now available in the ART Gallery. Recent updates were made to the following reports:
- 0700.1b - Length of Time Persons Homeless Metric 1 - v4 was updated to include Housing Move In Date
- 0701 - Exits to Permanent Housing with Return to Homelessness Metric 2 - v4 report has been updated to include new Destination options as found in the 2017 Data Dictionary
- 0706 - Permanent Housing Placement-Retention Metric 7 - v5 report has been updated to include new Destination options as found in the 2017 Data Dictionary
For more information, please refer to the Revision History in the 0700.1b and 0706 User Manuals.
Per guidance from HUD, we will not add the Client Location field as a filter in the System Performance Measure reports this year. We will revise reports next year to include that field.
Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point In Time (PIT) Reports
The 2018 version of the 0630 Sheltered and Unsheltered PIT report is available now in the ART Gallery. Several minor updates are needed to adjust calculations in the Chronically Homeless and HIV counts. These revisions will be available in an upcoming version.
The 2018 versions of the 0629 Housing Inventory Count and 0628 HIC Supplement reports are under development and will be released by the end of March.
An announcement will be sent out when the updated reports are available.
HUD Data Quality Framework Report
The 0640 Data Quality Framework has been updated to meet the requirements of the 2017 Data Dictionary changes. Several minor updates are needed to adjust Validation and Chronic Homeless Counts. A revised report will be available in an upcoming version and an announcement will be sent out when it is available.
Focus On: Eligibility Module
Are you looking for a way to improve your process for tracking Client referrals to housing, supportive services or other community assistance? Eligibility Module may be the right tool for you! A powerful tool for processes such as Coordinated Entry, this module allows the End User to immediately send multiple referrals to eligible Providers with one click by instantly viewing the Providers and Services for which your Client is eligible, potentially eligible, or ineligible. For more information, submit a case to your Customer Care Analyst in the Mediware Customer Community.
Customer Spotlight: Breaking Down Barriers to Housing and Services
This month we are spotlighting One Roof, the Continuum of Care for Central Alabama. Each year, One Roof hosts its Project Homeless Connect which aims to take away the barriers to safe, decent, affordable housing. In 2017, they served 642 individuals during this one-day, one-stop shop event. Take a look at these incredible results:
- 642 guests served
- 527 service provider volunteers
- 812 Smiling Face Client Guides and Information Guides
- 251 legal services provided
- 183 state IDs provided
- 148 housing-related services provided
- 154 grooming services provided
- 57 flu shots administered
- 178 dental screenings given
- 98 eye exams given
- 85 prescription glasses provided
Learn more about this incredible organization and event, see a great video, and learn how they leverage ServicePoint to streamline the Project Homeless Connect registration process here.
We want to spotlight you! Have you integrated an innovative project in ServicePoint? Are you expanding the use of ServicePoint to nontraditional programs throughout your community? Are you using ServicePoint in new and inventive ways? Email your story to john.wolf@mediware.com!
Check us out on Facebook and LinkedIn where you can read other great success stories from housing and community services organizations across the USA and catch up on the latest from your team at Mediware.
Save the Date
National Alliance to End Homelessness –National Conference on Ending Family & Youth HomelessnessMarch 1 and 2, 2018 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in Los Angeles, CA. More information here.
National Human Services Data Consortium Conference
April 17 – 19, 2018 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. More information here.
2018 Mediware Boot Camp
May 15 and 16, 2018 at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, TX.
The 2018 Mediware Boot Camp is right around the corner! Join us for two full days of training, collaboration and fun at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, TX. Sessions will be focused on ServicePoint 6, Qlik Sense and Spero. Early bird pricing is $695. Registration details will be sent out in early March.
Volunteers of America National Conference
June 2 – 5, 2018 in New Orleans, LA. More information here.
40th Annual AIRS I&R Training and Education Conference
June 3 – 6, 2018 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas. More information here.
Join us for a special Mediware I&R User Group meeting on Sunday, June 3, 2018 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Reserve this time to meet with your fellow ServicePoint customers to share best practices and learn about recent product enhancements. You can also participate in focus groups where you can offer your feedback and suggestions on upcoming product development. Learn about some of the innovative ways your peers are connecting with community partners to increase funding and grow their footprint in their community. This is your only opportunity at the conference to focus on the mission-critical software that drives your daily I&R operations. The meeting will break from 12:00pm – 1:00pm for lunch on your own or with colleagues.
Space is limited so please pre-register to ensure your place here. Contact info@mediware.com with any questions.
Association of Gospel Rescue Missions ConventionJune 12 – 15, 2018 at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee, WI. More information here.
ServicePointers
Adding New Household Members to an Existing Entry Record
Have you ever needed to add a new Household member to an existing Entry? Here are the best practices straight from the experts at Housing and Community Services:
1) Create the new Client and add them to the existing Household in the Household Tab.
2) Go to the Head of Household's Client record and find the Entry into which you would like to add the new Household member.
3) Use the pencil icon to edit the Entry. Save and continue.
4) You will now be on the main Entry screen with the Entry Assessment. In the section labeled Household Members Associated with this Entry/Exit, select Include Additional Household Members.
5) Select the new Household members to be included.
6) Ensure the Entry Date is correct for the newly entering Household member. Save & Continue.
7) The Entry should now display the additional Household member with the correct Entry Date.
