Steering Committee - April 17, 2025

julie02275
Apr 17
4 min read

Introduction

Overview of the importance of efficient application processes for clients.
Brief mention of ongoing enhancements and administrative adjustments.

Application Questions and Streamlining for Clients

Emphasis on the need for clear and concise application questions.
Discussion on the reduction of unnecessary questions to expedite the client experience.
Examples of streamlined application workflows.
Potential impact on client satisfaction and engagement.

The Connector Settings

Explanation of what Connector settings are and their relevance.
Overview of key settings that can enhance user experience.
Recommendations for optimizing Connector settings to better serve clients.
Insights into how improved settings can lead to quicker processing times.

Advocacy New Enhancement

Introduction to advocacy efforts.
Description of features that support clients and providers more effectively.
Benefits of these enhancements for clients and providers navigating complex situations.
Examples of successful advocacy initiatives and their outcomes.

Addressing Financial Aid Gaps in West Georgia

Identification of existing challenges related to financial aid availability in West Georgia.
Analysis of factors contributing to these gaps.
Strategies for improving financial aid access for clients.
Importance of collaboration with local organizations to fill these gaps.

West Georgia Cares Timeline for Deactivation in 2025

Overview
Explanation of the timeline leading up to deactivation in 2025.
Discussion on the implications of this change for clients and service providers.
Suggestions for transitioning clients to new resources and support systems.

Conclusion

Summary of the key points discussed throughout the blog post.
Call to action for providers to remain engaged in improving client services.
Closing thoughts on the future of client applications and advocacy in West Georgia.

Need Comments from Providers by April 24, 2025 at 5pm EST

Streamlining the Application: Do you Agree, Disagree, or Propose an Alternative?
1. Terms Agreements - No Change
2. Where you live - No Change
3. Third Party - add branching questions for new advocacy role (Personal Advocate for Client who is a user within the Connector vs family/friend etc. who is not a user) - Selects from Approved List
4. Request for Services- Two Types: Those that require questions/documents and those that do not require questions/documents/amounts/dates
  1. For services, add a date range for service amount requested
  2. Within The Connector, add new actual needed amount which is entered by the provider
5. Crisis Informaton- No Change in form, in software: move to notes section for security and work flow
6. Questions: diriven by request type (see two types)
7. Household Information - add % (0 to 100) of week member lives in the household during request for service
8. Contact Information - add preferred method of contact (email, phone, text, online portal), best day and time to contact (text box)
9. Documentation - driven by request type, minimum request is for the picture
10. Additional Information - No change, move to notes in the software
11. Explore ability to send a link with agency questions using the above data and contact information - Do you need this?
Streamlining Requests
1. Case Details and Request Details: will be the same view, security will control if you can edit or view each tab
2. Add: Copy a Request with No Change
3. Add: Copy a Request with a Change
4. Add: Copy an Application and Select which to carry over: Contact, Members, Documents, Questions, and Requests
5. Global Search:
  1. Add: Zipcode
  2. Add: Region (County)
  3. Add: City
  4. Add: State
6. Move Past Assistance to a tab in the Details instead of in the Notes/Properties tab
7. Past Assistance
  1. Add case and request ID
  2. Add reason for approve/deny
8. Request Tab: streamline responses
  1. Edit: No Change
  2. Approve:
    1. Add Reason Code: Partial or Full Amount with Comments (Do you need this?)
    2. Add: Repeat (based on frequency for the service type)
  3. Approve Alternate:
    1. Edit Request then add amount needed and add amount provided
    2. Response: List of Choices, Approve and Deny with Reason codes
    3. Add Repeat button with option to change or no change
9. Add: Ability to edit an application or request
  1. Doesn't send an email
  2. Edit response date (approve or deny)
Streamlining Clients
1. Advance Access Training: to be able to edit the member, merge duplicates, etc. (Do you want this?)
Dashboard: What do you want to see?
Reports: What do you want that isn't here?
New Advocacy View:
1. Ability to view the client's information in a narrow view
2. Add: Team Advocacy where multiple people collaborate
  1. Chat feature with the software with question and response tracking
  2. Control security access based on client's designated access level (contact, members, documents, requests, and question responses) for a period of time (no access to notes, emails, comments on responses)
3. Add: Ability to see summarized activity for a member
  1. See associated Household
  2. Summary of Services requested over time with response
  3. Summary of Address Changes
  4. Summary of Members over time
  5. Summary of Provided Documents with case
  6. Summary of Question Responses by Category (Financial Situation, Shelter Situation)
How do close the gap with financial aid requests and funding for those that meet a providers criteria for support?
1. Do we require accountability and followup?
2. Do we require taking a class/workshop/mentorship?
West Georgia Cares will be discontinued
1. Do you have a solution ready by August 1, 2025?
2. Legacy data can be added into The Connector - Do you need this feature?
Any other Suggestions?