NCJ Number
241547
Date Published
2001
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This paper emphasizes the importance of including parents in the development and improvement of electronic information-sharing among agencies that serve children, youth and their families.
Abstract
A quality, cross-system electronic management information system (MIS) can be a useful tool for improving services to children and families. As human services become more integrated and outcome-oriented, the electronic MIS that supports the services must change and evolve as well. Since recent system reform efforts have emphasized collaboration, additional players have been invited to provide input for design and implementation that can produce better outcomes through increased efficiency and improved data accuracy and comprehensiveness; however, there is one notable stakeholder who is often excluded in MIS development, i.e., parents. In the author's role as MIS manager for an agency that serves children and families in five Maine counties, she has asked parents to review the database user-interface. Parents have provided excellent feedback, such as pointing out data labels that promote stigma and suggesting changes that better protect data privacy and security. One parent suggestion was to move a field with sensitive information so it is not easily viewed when the program is first opened. Parents' input has repeatedly improved the efficiency of data management by focusing on the experienced needs of families that should be addressed in MIS. In order to improve parents' input for MIS improvements, they should be trained to critique the existing system and identify and advocate for system design and data quality that facilitates meeting family needs.