ByBonnie Peterson

Information ManagementPADM 7110

Dr. Jerry MerwinValdosta University

June 7, 2008

It offers a range of services to the community that includes: Information system designed to encourage

information sharing, collaboration, and improve service delivery

Research and Data Analysis to help assess needs, measure progress, and advocate for additional resources

Training and Technical Assistance to enable customers to use the system

(pcni.info, 2008)

Pathways provides nonprofits and government organizations with a full range of

technology services including a secure Internet-based collaborative case

management system and specialized Internet applications including Internet portals, automated e-mail services, and online information and referral databases. It

supports communities with a three part information and reporting system:

1. PATHWAYS COMPASS: “a secure, easy to use, Internet based Community Information Sharing System developed by Pathways, which meets federal HMIS [Homeless Management Information Systems] requirements”; organizations can be online and collaborating within minutes•PATHWAYS COMPASS servers are located in a secure data center that is staffed 365 days a year, 24 hours per day•The data center features multiple high speed internet connections, and power comes from multiple grids into high capacity uninterruptible power supplies, backed up by diesel generators•Physical security is controlled by manned stations and card readers and security cameras

(foundationcenter.org, 2008)(pcni.info,2008)

2. Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) Discoverer: “an intuitive ad-hoc query reporting, analysis and data export tool that gives its users flexible control of data from Pathways systems”

3. WEBSTER: “a browser based document management tool makes it possible to easily coordinate the collaborative creation of complex documents, such as housing inventory charts, AHAR [Annual Homeless Assistance Report] table shells and multi-agency grant applications”

(pcni.info,2008)

Who needed it anyway?

•Pathways Community Network, Inc. was developed in Atlanta where there was a concern for indigent and homeless clients who had to go to several agencies for different types of assistance.

•A client might receive food and clothing from one organization and apply for AFDC and Food Stamps from another. One agency might shelter the client for the night while another provided healthcare and yet another met their mental health needs.

•Referrals were given to clients, not knowing what type of assistance they may have already received.

•There was no continuum of care to help people get back on their feet. Just isolated instances of service from agencies that were not connected and collaborating.

1. In 1986, Sister Marie had started a terminal system that could connect 6 people at one time, could not do reports, and was not relational. This system served as the only means of collaboration, other than the telephone, for 12 years. In a city the size of Atlanta, it was extremely inadequate.

2. Through the telephone. A counselor, volunteer, or staff member might call another agency to make a referral, find out what kind of assistance had been received, or to try to coordinate services.

In order for agencies to work together and to increase the impact of their services so that more people could find the path to

success, a better means of communications was necessary.

To develop and operate secure, high tech systems that enable human services agencies to work more

effectively and efficiently - so they can help more families and individuals in crisis.

(foundationcenter.org, 2008)

Originally about a dozen cofounders who were executive directors and leads of agencies within Atlanta and Fulton County

Applied for grant for a Microsoft Access based design.

It was denied which was fortunate because Access was not large enough to have handled the system they wanted.

The Internet was becoming popular

The original group joined with other collaborators from United Way, IBM, and Fulton County

United Way, IBM, and Fulton County put up $250,000 for seed money

By 1998 the PATHWAYS COMPASS application had been built and Pathways Community Network, Inc. began

PATHWAYS COMPASS is now entering its sixth version

Originally began with four pilot programs Within three-four months expanded to twenty-two Continued to rapidly grow and spread In 2002, the government mandated that those who

received its grants become part of Pathways, so the number of users skyrocketed

Although 92% of the users are in Georgia, The Pathways Community Network system is also in use in Montana, Florida, Mississippi, and Washington

Major growth came because the program was mandated by the government, but the whole tenor of the program changed

Emphasis from the beginning had been on collaboration and sharing information among agencies

Once it was mandated, agencies did it for compliance

Now they must be careful to reinforce the collaboration part of it

Application is color-coded with three different levels of access Client decides whether or not the information will be shared

Client does not give blanket authorization Client must give authorization for each location he/she visits

First level of access: general demographic and service information that can be seen by anyone

Second level of access: service information that is shared at a more restricted level

Third level of access: By law, is not shared with anyone (such as HIV status)

Serves three functions: Information system: Provides communities with Internet

based collaborative data systems that their human services organizations can share and become more efficient and effective. “Users receive NASW [National Association of Social Workers] standards-based training on confidentiality laws and ethical ramifications of information sharing” (guidestar.org, 2008)

Technical assistance: to communities that are implementing shared information systems, regardless of the type of system they’ve chosen

Research and sharing

“Coordinates an annual census and survey of homeless people living in the City of Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb Counties (GA), a geographic area more than 900 square miles” (guidestar.org, 2008)

Has branched out to do other things: Point in time counts of homeless for 25 communities in

Georgia and around the country

Provide technical assistance for federal government HMIS (Homeless Information Management Systems) and AHAR (Annual Homeless Assistance Report)

Has received national and international honors for technical achievement Best Practices honors from PC Week, Technology

Managers Forum (the association of Fortune 1000 technology executives), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

One of five global winners of the 2003 Ericsson Internet Community Awards (ERICA Awards)

(foundationcenter.org, 2008)

Pathways Community Network, Inc. plans to venture into an area of study of poverty where information they collect will be the primary data source They will collect data on women who live in hotels in

DeKalb County Interviews will be done by women hired and trained by

Pathways who have lived in extended stay before and successfully transitioned out

Research will be on the challenges faced by women who live in hotels and what strategies they think will work to put them on the path to success

Agencies and organizations have a centralized system both to store and share data and to process reports for government and other funding agencies.

Through Pathways, communities also have the ability to collaborate on client services in order to provide the indigent and homeless clients with a continuum of care.

By providing agencies and organizations with an Internet based collaborative data system, Pathways enables service providers to help people in need connect with and receive services such as housing, counseling, financial assistance, and health care.

The ability to collaborate helps to ensure that the services people obtain are appropriate and effective.

As providers work together through Pathways they can increase the impact of their services so more people find the path to success.

Through Pathways they can also generate data that can be used to monitor the long term impact of these services.

Prior to Pathways Community Network, the indigent and homeless individuals

received assistance on a piecemeal basis. Through the advanced technological

information management system, it is now possible to offer a holistic approach

to those in need and give them hope for a better future. Although it’s easy to get

caught up in the whirlwind and the fascination of the information system, it’s important to remember the human faces

for whom the whole program exists.

I am greatly indebted to Bill Matson, Executive Director of Pathways Community Network, Inc. who generously donated his time and provided information for the making of this slide show.

References

foundationcenter.org. 2008. “Foundation Center.” 2008. Accessed on June 2, 2008. Available at http://foundationcenter.org/atlanta/spotlight/at_spotlight_021603.html.

guidestar.org. 2008. “Just Give.” 2008. Accessed on June 2, 2008. Available at http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=justgive&ein=58-2430973.

Interview with William Matson, Executive Director, Pathways Community Network, Inc., June 2, 2008

pcni.info. 2008. “Pathways Community Network, Inc.” May 5, 2008. Accessed on May 5, 2008. Available at http://www.pcni.info/mc/page.do?sitePageId=62697&orgId=pat.