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The SSIS Business Section at DHS celebrates Carlton County’s Lisa Wefelmeyer as SSIS Mentor of the Month.
Lisa was nominated by her work colleague Denise Mykkanen who shared “I would like to nominate Lisa Wefelmeyer from Carlton County for Mentor of the Month. She is so knowledgeable and always willing to drop whatever she is doing to help people not only find information, but she will teach them to find it so they can be more self-sufficient in the future. This is exactly what a mentor should do! She is helpful in every way and is always respectful when teaching others how to use SSIS to a greater extent. Not once are you ever made to feel inadequate for not know how or where to look for information. In addition, she frequently finds and shares information regarding programs and how to apply that information to SSIS applications. All in all, she is an amazing mentor.”
Thank you and congratulations, Lisa!
Nominations for mentor of the month can be submitted to Heide Moris, SSIS Mentor Program Coordinator.
Minnesota’s 'archaic' technology wastes critical caseworker time, counties say (startribune.com)
The Star Tribune published an article in response to Governor Tim Walz’s 2025 supplemental budget proposal which includes $15 million for SSIS modernization. This funding is dependent on negotiations with the House and the Senate. The article highlights the problems of excessive data entry requirements added over the years as well as application performance issues. DHS and MNIT remain committed to resolving performance problems and making immediate changes in required data entry that will help ease the burden on workers.
The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) 24A reporting period has ended. The 24A reporting period includes data that must be reported for all children who entered, remained in, or left foster care between the dates of 10/1/23-3/31/24. Continuous Placement Start and Discharge dates as well as Placement Start and End dates are required to be entered into SSIS within 30 days or less of the date of occurrence for each of these. Anything entered after 30 days will be considered ‘tardy’ and in error for AFCARS reporting. Please continue to run and review your repository related errors monthly.
Our AFCARS team is working on reviewing the current data and may reach out to agencies where we are getting a duplication or question regarding a specific AFCARS reporting element we need corrected for data integrity. Please be sure to respond to any AFCARS related emails from our team as timely as possible.
For any Repository or AFCARS related errors, please contact the SSIS Helpdesk.
Agency SSIS users are reminded to refer to their agency fiscal/worker mentor(s), coordinator(s), or supervisor for assistance with SSIS related questions, resetting passwords, reopening closed work groups, and more. If additional assistance is needed, only designated mentors, coordinators, or supervisors should email the SSIS help Desk. All others will be referred back to their agency.
The Cascade windows feature in SSIS allows users to toggle easily between active open screens when using a single monitor or laptop computer. Cascade can be accessed in SSIS by going to Window>Cascade. Right click to view and access open windows.
This might be helpful if a window in SSIS is not displaying within the screen, but the user opened a window. This is often related to the user accessing SSIS when the “screen space” they have has changed, such as using 2 monitors’ versus only a laptop screen.
The following is to clarify the SSIS tip published in SSIS Update #625, March 19, 2024.
Regarding Adult Protection Services
Refer to the Adult Protection SSIS User Guide for more information regarding Unknown, Unknown in SSIS Adult Protection Workgroups.
If a MAARC report identifies an Unknown, Unknown individual it is recommended AP workers refer to the Adult Protection SSIS User Guide. Information related to Unknown, Unknown for both the Adult Vulnerable Adult and/or the Person Alleged Responsible (PAR) is provided.
The Adult Protection SSIS User Guides provides the following guidance related to Unknown, Unknown for the Person Alleged Responsible for maltreatment (PAR):
Alleged Perpetrator name field displays the name of the PAR. MAARC is responsible to accept all reports of alleged maltreatment, even if a description of the PAR is unknown. In this situation, MAARC enters Unknown as the first and last name. MAARC forwards the report to the appropriate Lead Investigative Agency (LIA) for screening. The LIA should continue to seek the exact identity of the PAR. A name is not required in the Alleged Perpetrator field.
- If the name of the PAR for maltreatment is initially unknown, but you get a physical description during the intake;
- The worker will clear out the alleged perpetrator name field and should enter in the description field:
- A description of the PAR; or ‘Unknown, Unknown’ PAR
- Do not clear an unknown PAR in intake. Keep is as ‘Uncleared Client-Do Not Clear’.
- If a PAR is unknown, DO NOT enter a time entry Activity Code for the name “Unknown, Unknown” until after you have updated the “Do not clear”.
The Adult Protection SSIS User Guides provides the following guidance related to Unknown, Unknown, the for the Adult Vulnerable to Maltreatment (Victim Information Tab):
When the Vulnerable Adult (Adult Vulnerable to Maltreatment) name is Unknown, Unknown, all attempts should be made with either reporter or facility to determine the adult vulnerable name. If the report indicates multiple unknown adults vulnerable to maltreatment within a facility, identify the name of at least one adult during site visit. When an intake workgroup is opened, and adult name cannot be identified:
- County Report Action for Accepted for EPS and Accepted for Investigation should be “No”.
- Document in case notes the decision and all efforts conducted to identify the adult,
- If a Victim is unknown, DO NOT enter a time entry Activity Code for the name “Unknown, Unknown” until after you have updated the “Do not clear”.
Regarding Child Protection Workgroups
Workers entering information pertaining to unknown clients for child protection related workgroups should follow similar logic. For unknown alleged offenders and/or unknown alleged victims, workers should enter information in the description fields of the allegations tab of the child maltreatment report (if this information is known at the time of the report). SSIS requires at least one participant be entered to open a workgroup and if there are no known participants, workers can enter Unknown, Unknown into the name fields, but it is important to also change the clearing status field to Uncleared Client-Do Not Clear. When information is obtained regarding the person in terms of name or identifying information, then that information should be entered, and the clearing status then be changed to Uncleared Client to proceed through the normal clearing process.
Note: Unborn Baby should never be entered in as participant in a workgroup.
Bulletin 24-32-03 Revised: Northstar Care for Children Basic and Supplemental Payment Rates, Foster Residence Basic Rates, and Initial Clothing Allowance
Basic and Supplemental payment rates for Northstar Care for Children. Basic payment rates for Foster Care Residences, and Initial Clothing Allowance for all children in foster care, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, and related fiscal considerations.
Two SSIS coffee talks have been added to the 2024 calendar for the months of April and May.
SSIS Admin Part II, has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 at 9:00 a.m.
SSIS Admin topics covered during this session will include:
- County Preferences,
- Fiscal Components
- Special Cost Codes
- County Subservice
- Programs & Services
- Activities
- Staff Provided Rates
- Other Admin Tools and Reports
Click here to register.
Statewide Release v24.2 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, at 6:00 p.m. The SSIS Release v24.2 coffee talk has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 at 9:00 a.m. Click here to register.
Visit the SSIS Resource page to view what’s new in the Release, Release notes, general and previous Release information.
All coffee talk webinar recordings and related materials are posted on the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy website seven to ten business days following each event.
Training opportunities for new SSIS users or those seeking a refresher are now available to SSIS users. Courses are great for those new to SSIS or those seeking a refresher. Click the topic below for course descriptions, schedules, and registration information.
SSIS webinar materials and previous recordings can be found on the MCWTA site.
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