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   Social Services Goes Hi-Tech

Being a counselor in Social Services is hard work. Listening, really listening to each client, to make certain you hear what the client is saying and what is really being said, takes focus and energy. And the parade of hard luck stories and misery related by one client after another is emotionally draining. Given all this, counselors really don’t need additional challenges, like having to glean through folders in packed file cabinets to reconstruct the history of each individual or family coming in for help. Yet our manual system has been that kind of ‘cross to bear’ for our counselors for years. But, no more, beginning October 1st. Nola Geaney, President of the Conference, assisted by Phil Seoane, her very capable VP, are determined to make certain a new automated system is up and running on that date. The system will enable counselors to bring up a screen with a detailed history once they enter the client’s name. On that screen will be information on all the client’s visits to SVDP and the assistance provided, plus special issues and concerns that are unique to that client along with other vital data. No more digging through files and rigorously capturing data that was recorded during previous visits. Even determining if multiple clients live at the same address and have already sought rental and utility assistance will be possible. Chris Forsythe, one of the counselors, happily explains, “One of the benefits of the new system will be the ease of finding client histories. The system will be user-friendly and changes can be made right away versus waiting for the interview to end. All counselors can look at the same history on the computer when questions arise.” And for those of you who understand the challenges of keeping systems current, we will do away with the old and very difficult DOS system, a system that was nearly impossible to change as needs changed. “As we begin to see clients in October we will access their manual files for the last time,” says Nola. “We will enter the needed data from the old files and then shred them.” Of course, no one would be surprised to pass the offices at the end of any given day to see a small fire burning in one of the trash cans as the whole staff dances around merrily. Why? That is how glad the staff is to see the old manual system go away. No more spending as much as 15 – 20 minutes working to gain an understanding of a client’s history and struggling to locate information that may have been misfiled. Plus, no more purging the files at least once a year to eliminate old client information and make room for more client files because all the cabinets    

 The Pantry lost a dear and dedicated friend in July. Clay Mares who had worked in the Pantry for over fifteen years with his wife Marg, died after another day of service helping prepare for the Friday grocery handout. Betty Burgess said. “Clay was a source of moral support when things got hectic. He was a happy-go-lucky man but he didn’t take any crap.” The Pantry crew wanted some way to remember and recognize Clay and had a plaque presented to Marg in August. They will hang the plaque in the Pantry area, possibly over the hand-out window. “Clay will really be missed,” says Betty. “He was a sweet man… He really liked his donuts and would always run if the call came to pick them up.” •