Love Your Data HMIS Newsletter - September 2021

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Love Your Data

August 31, 2021

New Training Registration Process

graphic for new training process

We are excited to offer a new self-paced portal for Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) training. We appreciate your patience as we work out any kinks in this new process. We are using the new form to streamline the account request and training registration process. It is important that correct information is provided on the form. More information and instructions about the form are available at this informational document link.

Agency supervisors and managers: You will receive an email with a link to approve new staff and their information. This includes approving your staff’s agency access and identifying required trainings.

New HMIS users or current users needing more training access: Follow this link to complete the HMIS Training & Account Request Form for Washington Balance of State (BoS). If you have questions about the form’s required information, check with your supervisor before submitting it.

For HMIS Learning System or training issues, don't hesitate to contact Maylee Stevenson at maylee.stevenson@commerce.wa.gov.

 


Quarterly Dashboards

Dashboard

The Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG) Performance Tracker and Data Quality dashboards are updated for the fourth quarter of State Fiscal Year 2021 (April 1 – June 30). Take a look at this link to our Tableau Public Page if you haven’t looked at the data already.

 


Reports Corner

Reports Corner

Program Details Report and ‘Current Living Situation’ Data

Every quarter we will examine a report or two to help you take ownership of your data.

You may have heard of ‘Current Living Situation,’ which is used to track contacts for projects such as Street Outreach. But where can you go to get the data you’ve entered in this section? This is where the Program Details Report comes in.

You can read step-by-step instructions for accessing ‘Current Living Situation’ data at this HMIS blog post.

 


Excel at Excel Basics

Want to be a spreadsheet wizard? We will explore the power of spreadsheets, from the basics to advanced.

Beginner Tip: How do you find a quick summary of your data without using an equation? View summary data on the Excel Status Bar. Read about summaries at this HMIS blog post.

Advanced Tip: Tell your formulas how to behave with absolute references in formulas using ‘$.’ Read more about references at this HMIS blog post.

 


Staffing Changes

Picture of Ellen Hatleberge

Hi, I’m Ellen Hatleberg. In July, I joined the HMIS team as the data quality and reports analyst. My duties include HMIS data reporting and analysis, with a focus on HMIS data quality. I’ll also be the main contact for this quarterly HMIS Newsletter.

Previously, I worked in Commerce’s Local Governments Division. I have a master’s degree in geography, and I’m well-versed in Excel, Power BI, and ArcGIS applications, among others. Before Commerce, I supported federal food assistance programs for the Food Bank of Alaska, taught at a high school in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps, and worked on various data projects. I am excitedly learning all about the HMIS database and am interested in how data can support efforts to drive down homelessness.

During my free time, I like drinking tea, hiking, listening to podcasts and hanging out with my adorable nephews Grover and Leo.

If you would like to talk about the newsletter or say hello, I would love to hear from you! I can be reached at ellen.hatleberg@commerce.wa.gov.

 


Dear HMIS Customer Service: Who to contact?

Running into technical issues and not sure who to call? Don’t worry; the HMIS team still has your back.

One of our readers writes:

Dear HMIS team,

Everything was going fine, until last week HMIS stopped responding to my queries. I am not sure how our miscommunication started, but in the past Alicia was always there to help set things right.

Now that Alicia started her new role as the HMIS Data Coordinator, I am not sure what I should do.

Who can help me? Who should I email?

Confused in Clallam County

 

Dear CCC,

Don’t worry, HMIS will come around and the whole HMIS team is still here to help.

At this time, please email hmis@commerce.wa.gov if you have a general HMIS question or need technical assistance.

This way, we can get back to you as soon as possible.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,

HMIS team

 


Questions?

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for future content, please contact ellen.hatleberg@commerce.wa.gov.

That is all from us for now. Have a great quarter and don’t forget to love your data!