Integrated Human Services Project Update

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Integrated Human Services Project Update
written by Jessica Roake
Tech News Staff Writer

The Integrated Human Services Project (IHSP), a long-held dream of service providers throughout New York City, may soon become a reality. The IHSP, a computer system or group of systems that would allow information to be exchanged between human service providers in an automated, online, and confidential fashion, has been envisioned by various city agencies and service providers for over a decade. Since February of 2003, when a meeting was held to announce the creation of a task force to facilitate the development of the IHSP (then called the Human Services Extranet), work on the project has intensified. On April 19, 2005, the Committee on Technology in Government held a hearing, "Oversight: Review of the Integrated Human Services Project: Update and Future Plans", to assess the IHSP's progress.

The goals of the hearing were threefold: 1) to look at why the development of the IHSP is necessary, 2) to understand its current status, and 3) review its future plans. The hearing also provided a valuable forum for service providers in the nonprofit sector to contribute their thoughts and input. Gale Brewer, the chair, and Bruce Lai, the policy director for the Committee, opened the session and articulated its primary goals, one of which was to make serious headway on the IHSP in a timely fashion.

According to the hearing's committee report, New York City has 13 human service agencies and maintains over $3.3 billion in contracts with approximately 1,800 service providers, both non-profit and for-profit agencies. Nearly 300 of the city's human services contractors work with two or more City agencies. Agencies use over 100 software programs, and there are 80 systems for case management alone. Given these numbers and the tangle of data they convey, a streamlined, user-friendly computer system that facilitates communication between agencies and providers could improve service delivery while reducing administrative and overall service costs.

With the current system, a NYC resident who is in poverty, unemployed and has a substance abuse problem may have to go to three separate service providers to get help: a City agency to get welfare benefits, a nonprofit organization to get employment assistance and another nonprofit to get help with his or her substance abuse problem. There is currently no electronic means of communication between providers, making the sharing of information about clients who use multiple services impossible and coordination of services difficult.

Mr. Bergmann said that the first module, which he suggests be used by public assistance, food stamps and welfare agencies, among others, would be piloted by the end of 2005. The second module, likely to be employed by agencies such as Childcare Services and Head Start, will be piloted in early 2006.

-Ron Bergmann is the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT)

Ester Fuchs, Special Adviser to the Mayor on Governance and Strategic Planning, addressed the often-frustrating issues of NYC human services and explained how the IHSP would respond to improve the quality of service available to the people of New York City. The IHSP would allow residents and service providers to utilize a “One Stop Shopping” alternative in which a single website with enhanced online tools would provide residents access to multiple services. By streamlining the screening and eligibility requirements, the IHSP would allow a website visitor to see all the services for which they are eligible. Ms. Fuchs added that since the same data collected for eligibility are needed for claims, the IHSP would cut down on repetition and duplicate data entry, resulting in lower costs and greater administrative efficiency. The IHSP would make the sharing of information a priority among providers, supplying participating service providers with a comprehensive case profile of clients.

Ron Bergmann, the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT), explained the time line for the IHSP, which is rapidly progressing. Two modules have been solicited, and the City is now in the process of reviewing the bids from consultants. Three human service agencies, yet to be determined, will pilot the modules.

Though concerns were raised, the main feeling expressed was one of anticipation.

"The IHSP is essential to providing agencies like ours with the opportunity to view the operations of government in an honest and transparent way, and to help with expeditious delivery of the services that help give our families better lives."

-Cathleen Clements
Director of the Office of Public Policy and Client Advocacy
Children's Aid Society

The first module is a screening tool which will facilitate the online application process for New Yorkers in need of services; the second is an enrollment and attendance tracking module to help identify program vacancies and develop wait lists. Mr. Bergmann said that the first module, which he suggests be used by public assistance, food stamps and welfare agencies, among others, would be piloted by the end of 2005. The second module, likely to be employed by agencies such as Childcare Services and Head Start, will be piloted in early 2006.

Ms. Fuchs and Mr. Bergmann described the issues in the IHSP that must be ironed out, from questions in design to data aggregation. One of the main concerns about the IHSP remains confidentiality. Ms. Fuchs said that the Mayor's office has been meeting with the City's Law Department to address this specific issue and insure client privacy since 2003.

A number of different service agencies presented their thoughts and concerns regarding the IHSP to the panel. Representatives from Children's Aid Society, Food Change, Living Independently, NY Urban League, SCO Family of Services, Union Settlement Association, Women's Housing and Economic Development, Nonprofit Help Desk and Baruch College shared their opinions after Ms. Fuchs and Mr. Bergmann had completed their presentation.

The speakers agreed that the current system was in need of overhaul and responded positively to the streamlining and transparency aspects of the IHSP. Other than the issue of confidentiality, which was mentioned by all the presenters as a priority, concerns mainly focused on whether the IHSP would be an 'unfunded mandate'. Though the prevailing opinion was that the IHSP should be developed in a swift and timely fashion in order to begin providing New Yorkers with the benefits they need, some providers were wary of committing resources to any program not yet approved by the state.

Service providers voiced concern that participation in the project would require a great deal of time, resources and training, and that the costs alone might prevent smaller CBOs and nonprofits from benefiting. Ms. Fuchs and Mr. Bergmann were not present for this period of the meeting, and did not answer these concerns directly, though training was mentioned in their presentation.

Though concerns were raised, the main feeling expressed was one of anticipation. As Cathleen Clements, the Director of the Office of Public Policy and Client Advocacy for the Children's Aid Society, said, “The IHSP is essential to providing agencies like ours with the opportunity to view the operations of government in an honest and transparent way, and to help with expeditious delivery of the services that help give our families better lives.”

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Government....
ACCESS NYC: An Eligibility Pre-Screening Tool for City, State, and Federal Programs (October, 2007)

Cost Savings with New York State Procurement Services (December, 2006)

Integrated Human Services Project Update (July, 2005)

A Conversation with William Kowalski, Former Executive Director of New Jersey's One Ease E-Link (August, 2003)

A Follow-Up on the New York City Council's Hearing on the Human Services Extranet (March, 2003)

The Human Services Extranet Project (January, 2003)

How Should We Deal With Funder-Mandated Data Collection in Human Services? (January, 2003)

The HIPAA Compliance Process – What Does It Look Like? (January, 2003)

Help is Just Three Digits Away (November, 2001)

HIPAA and the Transmission of Sensitive Health Records (June, 2001)

Mapping the City: An Update on the City's GIS Project (January, 2001)

Paving the Way to the Future: DYCD's Comprehensive Contract Management System (January, 2001)

Creating the Paperless Office (November, 2000)

HUD Neighborhood Network Centers Respond to Need for a Computer-Savvy America (October, 1999)

New Mapping Service and Data Warehouse Serves New York Metropolitan Area (October, 1999)

CMAP: Mapping Services for the Nonprofit Community (June, 1999)

Diffusion Fund Enables Advanced Telecommunications for Disadvantaged. . .(December, 1998)

Other Articles of Interest....
Educational Opportunity Centers: Adult Workforce Preparation and Academic Development (July, 2000)

The Homeless Information Management System: Making Technology Work for Government (May, 2000)

Computers for Learning: Empowering America's Children for the 21st Century (April, 1999)

Internet-Based System Eases Court Preparation for Domestic Violence Victims (February, 1999)

Fill Your Tech Jobs - Free - and Can We Train Your Displaced Worker Clients? (October, 1998)


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