Another year is coming to a close and that means it's time to recap our top blogs of 2023. Whether you're new here (welcome!) or a regular reader (welcome back!), we hope you'll find something new and insightful in this year's list.
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(6) Every Case File, One Solution: The Future of Human Services Software
Workers across different human services programs constantly need to interact to serve clients. But too many barriers stand in the way. It’s hard for workers to provide client-based care when communication remains siloed and critical case documentation is inaccessible across the agency. Without a clear picture of the situation they’re trying to understand and react to, it’s difficult to make informed decisions and create a holistic plan for the family.
This why many agencies are moving toward having one solution that’s used across multiple programs to boost collaboration and better coordinate service delivery. Our blog post answers key questions on this topic, including: What are the benefits of a singular solution? What are some of the key features to consider when evaluating your options? How do you find the right tool? How can you get buy in?
(5) Traverse for Adult & Aging: Software to Support the Continuum of Care
Adult & aging caseworkers are stretched for time and resources trying to balance paperwork requirements and spending quality time with clients. They want to focus on assessing clients’ needs and coordinating services, but administrative roadblocks stand in the way.
You likely know that agencies use our software Traverse® to overcome these roadblocks in child welfare. But did you know we help many adult & aging programs do the same?
Over the years, we’ve spoken with workers and supervisors at Carver County Health & Human Services, Dare County Department of Health and Human Services, Houston County Department of Human Services, and Scott County Department of Human Services about how their agencies use Traverse for adult & aging. This blog post highlights key results, such as streamlining services and collaboration, completing work in the moment, and alleviating burdens on workers.
(4) HSFO Highlights: All Things Finance and Funding in Human Services
Amy Drapcho, our fiscal advocate, attended the Human Services Finance Officers (HSFO) Conference in Nashville, an event that brings together both public and private industry leaders to provide insights into the latest trends and developments in the world of human services finance and policy.
Amy brought back a ton of insight on hot topics and opportunities impacting agencies today. Her blog post recaps some conference highlights, from sessions and speakers to conference themes and travel tips. (Spoiler alert: key themes focused on the unwinding of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the ripple effects of public sector workforce shortages, and shifting priorities which will impact funding streams.)
(3) Is Any Money Out There? A Quick Guide to Grants in Human Services
As your human services agency navigates the complex technology buying process, you may find yourself wondering what external funding streams are available, outside of your agency’s budget, and how to access them to support or enhance your upcoming project.
Local, state, and national grant opportunities are a resource you can strategically leverage to support innovation, modernization, and workforce initiatives.
If your agency wants to look for grant funding but isn't quite sure how to get started, our blog post provides best practices and resources to help guide the process. We'll walk you through the journey from identifying the right opportunities to match your organization's needs to writing a strong proposal, plus offer tips to find help along the way.
(2) Unlocking Innovation: How Code for America and Minnesota are Charting a New Path
As states begin to reinstate renewal processes with the unwinding of the COVID-19 public health emergency, they're recognizing the need to implement new benefits portals or modernize existing platforms to increase access and efficiency. MNbenefits, a mobile-friendly integrated benefits application co-created by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Code for America, is a prime example.
MNbenefits provides a welcoming and effective "digital front door" for safety net services. The project has created big impact while proving to be a highly collaborative experience for all stakeholders involved. This blog post dives deeper into key project milestones, results, and lessons learned to help agencies increase access to critical government resources.
(1) Modern Technology Tools for Supporting the Human Services Workforce
The current workforce crisis facing the helping professions, including all programs within human services, unfortunately isn’t going away any time soon. Workforce issues will be top of mind for both local and state human services agencies for the next several years, as well as a priority communicated by federal partners. As a result, a lot of today’s most impactful technology is targeted toward supporting workers themselves.
As workforce stabilization, safety culture, and worker wellness have become front-and-center concerns for leaders and policy makers, several innovative tools have emerged that aim to support workers’ training, professional development, and well-being. We highlight a few of our favorites in this blog post, including Lyssn, Accenture’s AVEnueS, eCare Vault, and SigBee.
Bonus reads!
Still want more content? Check out these chart toppers that our readers continue to view every year:
- What is the Most Challenging Thing About Social Work?
- 10 Inspiring Foster Care Success Stories
- Dear Social Workers, Thank You for Showing Up.
- What Stereotype About Social Work Would You Clear Up?
