Helping Food and Nutrition Providers Manage Their Services

Can homeless services utilize health data? The answer is yes—but only if they follow strict rules put forth by HUD and HIPAA for HMIS. Check out what these rules entail and what benefits come from following them. 

When summer comes, so do rising temperatures and blistering heat. For people experiencing homelessness, this change can be dangerous—even deadly. How can homeless services best prepare for the coming summer?

Being a child isn't always easy; neither is being a refugee. What about when you're both? Consider these unique obstacles refugee children face, as well as how we can better support them as they resettle.

Since 2009, March 31st marks Transgender Day of Visibility. Celebrated by LGBTQ+ communities across the globe, this day serves as a chance to honor progress that transgender individuals and groups have made. It also offers a chance to improve the ways social services address transgender...

Did you know that over 60% of mental health professionals are social workers? The unique challenges that social workers face mean that they are also at higher risk of developing adverse mental health. Check out the state of mental health among social workers–and how to...

What is National Social Work Month? Check out more on the history–and importance–of social work, as well as five ways you can get involved today.

HIV/AIDS impacts more than men who have sex with men. In fact, 23% of cases in the US occur in women. How can health and human service organizations better support these vulnerable populations? It starts with understanding the unique needs of women and HIV/AIDS care.

How can VSPs best set survivors up for success? The path to healing from domestic violence may be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. Consider how and why VSPs are an integral part of this very healing.

For any VSP (Victim Service Provider), the top concern should always come down to security. This is for more than ensuring funding–it comes down to protecting the people in their care from those that would do them harm. But how secure is your comparable database?

Are you a Victim Service Provider? Then you should be aware of the signs of a successful comparable database for case management. It comes down to much more than simply following compliance for HUD–you need to make sure it has powerful management tools, a robust...

Victim Service Providers (VSPs) are unique among health and human service organizations. Not only do they work among the most vulnerable populations in our communities, they also must adhere to strict rules from HUD in order to receive funding. VSPs need experts to help navigate...

As a victim service provider, you work with vulnerable populations and must ensure that their data is safe and secure. One way to make sure this happens? Integrating a comparable database into your organization.

How can we better support the refugees in our communities? With the holiday season just around the corner, consider our ten ideas on how to help out refugees in your area, from supporting local businesses to getting involved with resettlement agencies.

Data has never been more critical to the success of health and human services. It is also precious, and should be meeting the highest data security standards available. How can you know if your data privacy is up-to-par? Consider our five signs of strong data...

Did you know that on average, nearly 20 people per minute experience physical abuse by an intimate partner in the United States? In the span of a year, this equates to over 10 million men and women. For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, consider these reasons...

October is National LGBT History Month. History is full of queer activists who have put their lives on the line to help make the future equal and fair for all. Consider these four LGBT trailblazers whose work has directly influenced the way health and human...

Every day in the United States, thousands of children are abused or neglected. They are one of the most vulnerable populations–and as such, require specialized care and support. Case management is an essential tool in helping address the needs of child welfare.

How do you know your system administration service is up-to-par? It requires taking a look at how the service functions on a micro and macro level. Consider our five essential keys to a successful system administration service.

Knowing the state of mental health among unhoused individuals is the first step in better advocating for change. Consider how mental health plays a role in issues surrounding homelessness, and how your organization can begin to work towards eradicating adverse mental health in your communities.

Care coordination plans are the future of healthcare. By utilizing strategies that bring community resources together, health and human service providers can offer better, more comprehensive services that save costs while improving patient outcomes.

Health and human service organizations are beginning to understand why working together is so important. By bridging the gaps of siloed care through whole person care, these organizations can successfully accomplish the "triple aim": improving the patient experience, improving health outcomes, and reducing the cost...

Health and human services are complex. They require case management systems that not only do the job but do it well. How can you be sure that your case management is at the standard you need? Consider these four elements: client intake and assessment, design...

Reporting is an essential tool for non-profit and social service organizations. How do you know you are getting the most out of your reporting? Knowing what you need—as well as what is possible—is the first step in maximizing reporting potential.

For over 30 years, Ryan White programs have led the nation in HIV care. Today, nearly half of all HIV-positive individuals in the US rely on Ryan White for their health needs. Organizations providing this care are comprehensive in their approach and focus on helping...

How (and why) do social services differ for children? The better we can understand the unique needs of children and youth, the better we can help. Improving social service effectiveness for children is not only valuable; it can be life-changing.

Is your organization properly addressing minority mental health? Understanding the unique needs of minorities is imperative to lasting community change. By finding strength in communities, health and human service groups can better serve individuals and families.

July is Social Wellness Month, and central to health and wellness is a sense of community. How can health and human service organizations better foster this belongingness? It starts with care coordination that is focused on bringing services together.

As the summer months continue, experts warn of an uptick in domestic violence cases. Why does such violence increase during this warmer season? More importantly, what can your social service organization do to help?

Collecting, protecting, and analyzing your organization’s data is more important today than ever before. How do you know you have the most effective data management? Four key qualities of effective data usage—security, privacy, reliability, and resiliency—are critical to determining the answer.

Whole person care is gradually becoming more prevalent in the realm of health and human service organizations. But what exactly does it mean? Check out the definition and importance of whole person care, as well as how your organization can begin implementing it today.

HMIS is a buzzword in the realm of homelessness agencies. But what does it exactly mean? And why is it important? In this blog post, we explore the specifics of HMIS and how a powerful case management solution can improve data, analysis, and services provided.

What kind of barriers do LGBTQ individuals face when it comes to accessing social services? Check out the challenges this community deals with when obtaining health and social care, as well as the ways your organization can help make it easier for sexual and gender...

With summer just around the corner, millions of children are about to lose their sole source of consistent nutrition: school lunch. What can your health and human service organization do to help push back against this hunger? We suggest three simple steps: inform, coordinate, and...

Did you know May is both Mental Health Awareness AND Teen Self-Esteem Month? Pivot Adventure, a non-profit in Utah, utilizes recreational therapy to provide affordable mental health courses for teenagers. Their unique approach is critical to the effectiveness of these social services.

Is your organization addressing mental health concerns? If you work in the health and human services industry, then your program could benefit from focusing on mental health. Consider these three simple steps below to begin incorporating mental and behavioral health into your social services.

If you work in health and human services, chances are you have heard of “care coordination”. But what does it mean? And how is it related to case management? Read below to learn the definition of care coordination and discover how to implement it into...

Earlier this year, we discussed what refugee resettlement programs can expect in 2021. Many of these expectations have changed—despite big promises from the current administration, only 2,050 refugees have been admitted to the US during the 2020-21 fiscal year (Sep—Aug). What are the problems facing...

Americans experience some of the highest rates of stress in the world. Those in lower socio-economic brackets report even higher levels, and this can negatively impact their overall health. A whole person care approach can help health and human service organizations better address stress.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, experts warn of the devastating effects of a rise in domestic violence. With close living quarters, financial and economic stress, and increased substance abuse, domestic violence cases are trending upward. Health and human service organizations can help mitigate this rise...

This year’s theme for World Health Day is “Building a Fairer, Healthier World”. Key to accomplishing this goal is understanding—and addressing—social determinants of health. As more healthcare providers take a holistic approach to health, more individuals and communities will receive the care they need.

This year’s theme for National Social Work Month is “Social Workers are Essential”. Did you know that social work extends far beyond the Department of Social Services? With over 700,000 active social workers in the US, this industry is essential for many communities’ function and...

Running a health and human services organization can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Often, case management processes—like entering data into spreadsheets, creating reports, and handling clientele growth—can slow down organization effectiveness. Be aware of the signs that show it may be time to...

Did you know March is Women’s History Month and Social Work Month? Women have been and continue to be crucial to the work of health and human services organizations. Check out these five influential women who helped shape social work into what it is today.

How can food and nutrition programs best combat child hunger? The COVID-19 pandemic has opened the path for one possible solution: universal school lunch. Advocates pushing for a long-term implementation cite the academic and health benefits of such programs.

Despite being high-risk for COVID-19 complication, HIV/AIDS patients still experience challenges in obtaining the care they need. As organizations better understand the relationship between HIV and the coronavirus, it emphasizes the need for community care coordination.

Have you been screened for mental health? Despite its growing prevalence, mental and behavioral health are not often screened by healthcare providers. However, implementing these screenings into health and human service organizations can have profoundly positive effects for individuals and families.

In an earlier blog from 2019, we outlined HMIS Data Standards and how they were changing. Now the changes have been made and it is time to reflect.

Hunger in the United States is rising, and food and nutrition services are looking to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for help. As the new administration is challenging lawmakers to increase the financial support for SNAP, food programs are hoping to see an increase...

What is the best treatment for cancer? While there may not be one simple answer, experts agree on the importance of a whole person care approach. Through social determinants of health, programs and organizations can better help cancer patients by providing the care that they...

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are becoming increasingly popular—and significant—to health and human services. The first step to incorporating SDoH in your own organizations and programs is to understand what SDoH means and how it is relevant to your work.

The challenges for aging services have become more apparent in the wake of COVID-19. Not only are older adults more at risk from coronavirus complications but they are also prone to compounding issues regarding food security, mental health, and isolation.

As the Biden Administration implements a historic limit of 125,000 refugees into the US, resettlement programs can expect new changes with their budget but should prepare for a more gradual shift in execution.

Three fresh ideas in the sphere of coordinated care—digital technology, social prescribing, and national standardization—may be the innovations that programs need to better improve their impact. 

The invasion of Ukraine has displaced over 5.3 million refugees (and counting). Now is the time to aid Ukrainians fleeing political violence–but what exactly can you do to help? Check out our three ideas on ways to make a difference today.

Care coordination is the future of health and human service organizations, but stakeholders and community members are essential to its success. Social workers are key to implementing effective and lasting community care coordination.

There are over 19 million veterans in the US, and each one deserves care from services that understand their unique needs. How well do you know the state of veteran care? Check out our three suggestions on how health and human service organizations can improve...