Safe Futures A Plan for Program Improvement - Department of ...

BARRIERS TO ACHIEVEMENT:
Goal: Increase competency skills of core user group
P4 ACTION STEPS: Identify problems that currently exist in core user group.
START
DATE
COMPLETION
DATE
RESPONSIBLE
PERSON(S)
MEASURABLE
BENCHMARKS
Mar. 2002 June 2002 Kathy Herren, Evaluation and Reporting
Section
Surveys that indicate problems and follow-up surveys that
indicate increase in knowledge.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Achieved. A systemic review of IDS online based on the Child and Family Services Review indicated that 'users' found the
information system problematic. Acknowledging that the original system was designed to have administrative support staff in county
offices as the primary user of IDS, we needed to initiate change by 're-defining' who is the 'core user group'. A review of the current
user group suggest that we have an increase number of case managers and their supervisors that have been assigned the task of data
entry into IDS online out of necessity. Vacancies and hiring freezes of the Administrative Assistant classification has often hampered
the county office to submit timely and accurate data. Thus, developing competency within the county office that was built out of
necessity. Our new definition of 'core user group' has expanded and allows for case managers and supervisors, who in addition to
providing direct services and supervisory support, lack knowledge of how to use the system effectively. Eventually, it will be an
expectation that all case managers will be responsible for maintaining their own electronic case records and data collection. Until that
time, computer skills, aging equipment, technology upgrades and lack of procedural know how, were identified as challenges that
county staff deal with on an ongoing basis. Using the January 1, 2003 merge of the Protective Services Data System (PSDS) into IDS
online as a test, we identified the current skills and competencies that are present in county offices. Those staff that were
administrative assistants or performed clerical duties in their county offices, indicated that they were excited about the system and felt
that it was easy to use and required little typing. The use of paper to screen was not perceived as a difficult transition as the form was
consistent with the screens. Those case managers and supervisors in attendance shared the same sentiment but indicated that as
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Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
March, 2004 Quarter 5 – Work Plan P Page 5