Turning Data into Information: Using InfoNet to Collect and Use Data to Improve Victim Services

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Turning Data into InformationUsing InfoNet to
Collect and Use Data to Improve Victim Services

• Nicky Gleason, Office of Crime Victims Advocacy

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Whats InfoNet?

• A web-based data collection system for victim
  service providers in Washington State.

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Whats the Point?

• Facilitate reporting
• Standardize data collection
• Centralize data

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Who Uses InfoNet?

• Community Sexual Assault Programs (CSAPs)
• Specialized Sexual Assault Services
• Native American Specialized SA Services
• SA Services to Marginalized Communities
• DSHS Emergency Domestic Violence Shelters
• Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy (DVLA)
• STOP grant victim services programs
• DSHS DV Services to Marginalized Communities
• Crime Victim Service Centers

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What Does InfoNet Collect?

• Client Information
• Service Contacts
• Administrative Information

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Client Intake Information

• Client Demographics
• Offender Information
• Client Income
• Referrals
• SA History/Other Issues
• Services Needed/Received
• Secondary Victims/Children
• Medical and Criminal Justice System Experience

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Service Contacts

• Direct Client Services
• Hotline/I R
• Prevention Activities
• System Coordination

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Administrative Utility

• Agency Information
• Staff/Volunteer Information
• Contract/Grant Information

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Reports

• Standardized Reports
• Users access directly in InfoNet
• Most are specific to a particular programs
  reporting requirements
• Custom Reports
• Users request via e-mail from OCVA staff
• Very flexible but can take longer to generate

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Standardized Reports

• Client Intake Summary
• Client Services Summary
• Program Specific Reports

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Custom Reports

• Record Level Reports
• Red Flag Reports
• Custom Queries of Aggregate Data

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Record Level Reports

• Client ID numbers entered incorrectly/do not
  match protocol
• General scan for data accuracy and completeness
• Data is stored as a series of numbers
• Data can be imported by agency into Excel,
  Access, or agencys own data system

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Red Flag Reports

• Data is incorrect services the agency does not
  provide, dates outside of relevant range, hours
  of service are exceptionally high, etc.
• Data is missing shelter end dates, demographic
  information

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Custom Queries

• Reports for Other Funders
• Management Uses
• Analysis of Trends and Outreach

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Reports To Other Funders

• Comply with grant reporting requirements.
• Assess impact of funds targeted for specific
  purposes.
• Grant solicitation and application data.

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Grant Reporting

• May include client count, subset of services, or
  be based on a staff member paid for through the
  grant.
• Many grants want to know only what was paid for
  with their funding.
• Information can include any combination of
  fields, not just whats available on the template
  reports.

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Assessing Impact of Funding

• Usually a comparison of two different time
  periods one prior to the funding and one after
  the implementation of the funding.
• Useful in grant reporting and subsequent
  applications.
• May also be useful in soliciting funding from
  other sources.

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FY 2006 funding 100,000 FY 2007 funding
125,000 Increase in funding 25 Increase in
clients served 57
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Grant Solicitation/Application

• May be tailored to fit the grant youre applying
  for.
• Be careful of overkill a little data can go a
  long way!
• Dont be afraid of low numbers they may
  indicate where your agency has the most need for
  funds.

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Example Medical Advocacy
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Management Uses

• Analyze number of clients served by individual
  staff members.
• Analyze hours and types of service provided by
  individual staff members.
• Determine average amount of services received per
  client.

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Example Services By Staff Member
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Analysis Of Trends

• Identify changes in client profiles over time.
• Analyze trends in services.
• Identify underserved populations.

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Example Client Race Over Time
January 2007
July 2006
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Trends in Services

• Of 1,852 Legal Advocacy clients
• 656 received Medical Advocacy
• 1,382 received General Advocacy
• 57 attended Support Groups
• 165 attended Therapy
• 52 received Medical Social Work

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Example Targeted Outreach
Source of Census Data http//quickfacts.census.g
ov
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Be Careful What You Ask For
When using InfoNet, there are literally millions
of ways to ask questions of your data. Some
questions can seem very similar on the surface,
and yet have entirely different results.
Awareness of how you ask the questions can be
just as important that the data youve entered in
telling your story accurately.
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Example A Age Groups
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Example B Even Grouping
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Contact Information

• Nicky Gleason
• nickyg_at_cted.wa.gov
• 360.725.2887