As community action agencies across Massachusetts engage in the difficult quest for unduplicated client data for reporting and planning, they are facing the challenge of identifying software that will consolidate and distill information from a diverse group of applications.
At the moment, Octopus, developed by Community Networks, has attracted the greatest number of customers.
However, the problem of creating a comprehensive agency-wide system cannot completely be solved by Octopus, since the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will not release its data affecting WIC, family planning, and other programs.
How are the different CAAs addressing the central database issue? The breakdown is as follows:
CN’s Octopus—8
CAPTAIN/Reflections—3
Developing their own (Microsoft Access-based systems, in some cases with help of consultants)—5
In the process of deciding among different products—2
Not yet developing central client database systems—6
<< Return to Part II: Client Data Collection & Reporting Issues