Database for Social Services

I have a social services client who currently stores all client data in Excel spreadsheets as well as all of their staff's work hours and assignments.

Any suggestions on a database the might serve one or both of these areas? The client data contains number served and multiple demographics.

Know of any programs that focus on social service agencies?

Thanks

do you have to meet HMIS requirements ???

oz

It will depend largely on your clients information management processes, such as how case management is tracked, and the relationships between this service information and employee time. Mapping out the processes first, along with the information required to manage at each step can go a long way to determining how the database should help you organize information.

Foothold Technology, and Vera Institute for Justice offer case management tracking systemsSocial Solutions are some examples of software developed for human services sectors.

Best,

Eric

Another thing to consider is the transition from the old system to the new one. Fields and features aren't going to be a perfect match and the new program's import function, if it has one, will not automatically recognize the spreadsheets.

Will you be able to convert the old data yourself? Hire a consultant to do it? Re-enter it manually into the new system? Abandon the old data along with the old spreadsheets? Run both systems for a period of time?

Since the cost of the transition could be far more than the cost of the new software, in dollars, hours and anxiety, it should be well planned and be part of the criteria by which you evaluate the new software.

-ENO