Improving Case Management for Homeless Families Through Technology

Mission Statement: Lydia Place provides a multifaceted program that supports women and their children in transition from homelessness to independence

Question 1: The Before: What was the challenge, issue or problem your organization was facing? Or, what was the opportunity you were not able to take advantage of before you put a technology solution in place?; Answer: Before using Microsoft technology, our case managers used hand-written progress notes and service records to track client progress, goals, referrals, and staff time. These notes were kept in each client's individual file inside locked cabinets. This method posed a problem when other case managers needed to review the files and make changes, especially as our program grew, new staff were hired, and case managers moved to a separate office.

Question 2: What Microsoft software have you used/are you using in your organization to more effectively engage your beneficiaries, donors and/or volunteers and/or to make a difference in your community?; Answer: Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 (Includes any of the following: Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, OneNote, Outlook, and Word); Other:

Question 3: The After: How have these Microsoft products allowed you to engage your stakeholders more efficiently or effectively to make a difference in your community?; Answer: In 2009, our agency began using Microsoft Word and Excel to record client progress notes and service records.

Question 4: What about these products (the features or the way you used them) made them particularly helpful in enabling your organization to expand and improve upon its community impact?; Answer: By using Microsoft technology, all client files can be accessed online securely through our server. This enables supervisors to monitor the work as well as be more involved and connected to off-site staff. Through online documenting, our case managers spend less time hand-writing progress notes and can easily track their hours spent with clients with the Excel functions. Documenting online makes our client files appear more professional and are easier to read through. Using the Microsoft technology has made our agency more efficient and has greatly improved how we report our statistics to funders.

Question 5: Please provide any examples, stories or data that illustrate the difference the use of Microsoft software has enabled you to make (i.e., # of new clients reached, new program added, increased dollars raised, increased volunteers, etc.; Answer: The Microsoft software has

Microsoft Technology For Good Contest