Technological innovation is rare in the human services field, because most service providers operate with limited resources and they are forced to choose between serving more families or investing in technology. In addition, most funding in human services comes from government sources, who rely on paper processes for accountability, writes Partners for Our Children Executive Director Ben de Haan in an opinion piece appearing in Xconomy and the UW series,The Innovation Imperative.
More specifically, social service providers lack the resources and technology to efficiently collect, analyze and report data. We know that some don’t even collect data; but for those that do, their service management systems are often outdated, closed off from other partners working with the same clients, and there’s no feedback loop that allows them to assess how and if their services are working.
The lack of data and technology tools should not get in the way of improving services for the most vulnerable children and families in our communities. If we can empower social service providers with innovative technology, tools and powerful data, services will be enhanced, which ultimately means that outcomes for children and families will be improved.