I would like to ask readers who work in agencies serving DSS clients to contact me directly to begin an off line discussion. (The topic may not be of interest to the general reader of this forum.)
The Department is in the process of launching 'Family Networks Web.' This is an extension of the Federally financed SACWIS compliant Family Net, an internal information system that the Departments staff uses to track investigations, authorize services, set up contracts and provider relationships, and pay providers. It is my understanding that the vision is to eventually do away with the internal Family Net system by developing the Family Networks Web, web based system that the department staff and all external providers will use as a common web based client record system to do assessments, treatment plans, case reviews, critical incident reports, and report daily service delivery. In addition, home finding, and presumably all the other functions of the Department will find their way onto this system.
Communities for People has been an early adopter of this system. We are now moving toward full implementation. We have been to the training the Department is providing. My feeling is that we could learn a great deal from other early adopters, but we don't know who is out there and active in this. I would like to identify a few people like us so that we could compare notes and ideas about how to incorporate this web based, state operated record system into our practices. I am particularly interested in the impact on those agencies that already have their own electronic systems in place or are considering using such systems and agencies that serve clients from multiple agencies, as well as agencies that do not have their own system and serve only DSS clients.
Please reply if Massachusetts DSS Family Net Web is impacting you.
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