A Collaborative

Approach to Integrating

HIFIS Data

A Collaborative

Approach to Integrating

HIFIS Data February 23, 2010Steve Bulgin

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A Collaborative Approach to Integrating HIFIS DataA Collaborative Approach to Integrating HIFIS Data A Brief History A Collaborative Approach Integrating the Data Telling the Story Looking Forward Questions and Answers

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A Brief HistoryA Brief History 9 Emergency Shelter Providers All Service Providers maintaining

separate databases Weekly data exports Aggregate data contained 2500 duplicate

clients Duplication of services Some Services Providers couldn’t share

data within their multiple shelter locations

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A Collaborative ApproachA Collaborative Approach Nine Emergency Shelter Providers Signing of a new Data Sharing

Protocol Working with HRSDC on vital

sector specific visibility within HIFIS

working collaboratively to

eliminate homelessness

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Integrating the DataIntegrating the Data

Merging over 10 years of data representing 38,000 clients

One HIFIS database running on a City of Ottawa Citrix server

Secure remote internet connections to a single HIFIS database hosted on a City of Ottawa server

building capacity in

our community

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Telling the StoryTelling the Story

Paint an accurate picture of homelessness in Ottawa

Alliance to End Homelessness Report Card

evidence based

decision making

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Jan-Dec 2008 Report Card Jan-Dec 2008 Report Card

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Let them Be Kids PlaygroundLet them Be Kids Playground

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OMBI ReportsOMBI Reports

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Looking ForwardLooking Forward

Signing Data Sharing Protocols with non emergency shelter Service Providers

Mobile outreach Better data analysis and accurate

reporting of long term trends Improving the data collection

process

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Why is data quality important to me?Why is data quality important to me?

Friends, ultimately I believe that good data collection will result from shelters who themselves value the information they collect. And while I hope they value that information for their own service evaluations and planning, they should, more importantly, value it for the knowledge it affords them to effectively work with their clients towards a successful outcome through the service continuum. 

We have lobbied hard to ensure newer versions of HIFIS reflect that mentality. It is a knowledge-based assessment tool to help the community successfully serve their clients - not just to facilitate reporting to stakeholders. Those results will be a tangible benefit from HIFIS being used as a service delivery tool in the community, not simply a data collection tool.

-Jason Abbott

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Questions& AnswersQuestions& Answers

Thank You

Steve.Bulgin@Ottawa.ca613-580-2424 ext.41651