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N-FOCUS Nebraska Family Online Client User System

N-FOCUS Nebraska Family Online Client User System. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services P.O. Box 95044 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2306 www.hhs.state.ne.us.

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N-FOCUS Nebraska Family Online Client User System

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  1. N-FOCUSNebraska Family Online Client User System Nebraska Department of Health and Human ServicesP.O. Box 95044Lincoln, NE 68509(402) 471-2306www.hhs.state.ne.us Presented as part of the NGA Webcast Series:Making the Most of Limited Resources: State Options to Help Low-Income Workers Achieve Self-SufficiencyWebcast 1: Using Technology and Public-Private Partners to Help Low-Income WorkersHosted by:The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services May 13, 2003

  2. SVP FC PAY IEV EA FSP JOBS* PAE CWIS *JOBS is now Employment First N-FOCUS The N-FOCUS concept • N-FOCUS is an acronym for Nebraska Family On-line Client User System • N-FOCUS integrates—into one automated system— NHHSS programs that had previously been maintained individually • The system automates the handling of client, resource, and payment information for these programs

  3. Single access worker Interactive interview Client/server technology Case check-out (download) and check-in (upload) Seamless access to information Multi-tasking Expert system technology Client assistance rule base “What If” processing On-line policy and help Free-form narratives Alerts To-do lists On-line edits Key System Design Characteristics • The N-FOCUS functional and technical design supported existing needs and future enhancement and growth • The system would put appropriate tools and processing power into the hands of N-FOCUS users • The ultimate goal was to improve the delivery and management of services for Nebraska citizens

  4. Initial development crossed several administrations and policy initiatives Information Strategy Planning (4/91-11/91) Analysis (12/91-5/92) FAMIS Planning APD Submitted (3/92) N-FOCUS Implementation APD Submitted (4/93) N-FOCUS RFP Release (8/93) N-FOCUS Contract Finalized (3/94) Design (5/94-3/96) Site Preparation, HW/SW Installation (11/94-1/96) Construction (2/95-3/96) Pilot Test (Beatrice) (6/96-7/96) Statewide Training (7/96-10/97) Statewide Conversion/Implementation (8/96-12/98) 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999-presentMaintenance, growth, additional functionality to support new programs and changes in policy

  5. Child Welfare Information System (CWIS) development was a separate, parallel effort CWIS functions were added to N-FOCUS in 1998 The two systems share common elements Nebraska’s child welfare information system (CWIS) was added Architecture Methodology Clients Providers Services Payments Interfaces CWIS(e.g., central registry, risk assessment) N-FOCUS

  6. N-FOCUS: Source of Funding • N-FOCUS:$41.9M 1991 - 199835% (~$14.7M) from State General Funds65% (~$27.2M) from Federal (FAMIS) • State staff (HHSS and CDP): $ 8.6M • Contractor services: $22.1M • Contractor hardware/software: $ 8.0M • CPU and network and State software: $ 3.2M • CWIS:$16.9M 1995 - 199825% (~$4.2M) from State General Funds75% (~$12.7M) from Federal (AFCARS/SACWIS) • State staff (HHSS and CDP): $ 3.0M • Contractor services: $10.9M • Contractor hardware/software: $ 2.5M • CPU and network and State hardware/software: $ 0.5M Combined funding: State General Funds: ~$18.9M Federal: ~$39.9M Total: $58.8M

  7. External factors had an impact on the N-FOCUS system • Other initiatives had an impact on N-FOCUS, its users, and their work environments • System design and work environment structure must be able to accommodate continual change and enhancement • N-FOCUS flexibility and project structure make it possible to overcome challenges introduced by external factors Single AccessWorkers ManagedCare Welfare Reform/ Employment First Partnership 5 Agencies Merge KidsConnection

  8. Expert System Redesign Phase 2 - Rewrite financial rule base EBT - Electronic Benefits Transfer for food stamp program Incorporation of Developmental Disabilities ECHO system functionality Upgrade to Pentium workstations External/internal requests for access (resources) Move to newest versions of software development tools Administration for Children and Family - CWIS review Youth treatment correctional facilities Purge/Archive/Retrieval Reporting Training Interfaces with Nebraska Child Support System (CHARTS) Other post-implementation initiatives are complete or underway • System enhancement and growth is an ongoing process • Since implementation, the N-FOCUS project team has worked continually to keep the system current on business and technological levels

  9. N-FOCUS Today Today, N-FOCUS... • Issues $37.5 million in benefits and payments each month • Supports 2,426 users, with both internal and external access • Handles more than 200,000 master case data files • Tracks data for more than 600,000 individual clients and others N-FOCUS today is a mature, reliable system that has become an indispensable tool for our users

  10. N-FOCUS users Single Access Workers • The typical N-FOCUS user is a professional caseworker skilled in the government policies of one or more areas of public assistance (e.g., Child Welfare, ADC, Food Stamps, Medicaid) • Their clients are Nebraska residents, whom they serve from agency offices around the state • They also use N-FOCUS to coordinate resources to support their clients Resource Development Workers Child Welfare Specialists

  11. Aid to Dependent Children/Medicaid (ADC) Assistance to the Aged; Blind (AABD) Adult Protective Services (APS) Child Care (CC) Children & Family Services/Medicaid (CFS) Emergency Assistance (EA) Employment First (EF) Food Stamp Program (FSP) Former Ward/Medicaid (FW) Independent Living/ Medicaid (IL) Juvenile Court (JC) Medical (MED) Refugee Resettlement Program (RR) Subsidized Adoption - Grant only (SA) Subsidized Adoption/Medical (SA/Med) Subsidized Guardianship (SG) Subsidized Guardianship/Medical (SG/Med) Social Services for Aged & Disabled (SSAD) Social Services for Children & Families (SSCF) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver: Adults with Disabilities (AD) Waiver: Adults with Developmental Disabilities (ADD) Waiver: Children with Developmental Disabilities (CDD) Waiver: Developmental Disabilities Case Management (DDCM) Waiver: Early Intervention (EI) Waiver: Katie Beckett Plan Programs Covered N-FOCUS automates benefit/service delivery and case management for more than 25 Health and Human Services System programs

  12. Intake Allegations Case Registration Case Person Case Management Eligibility/Benefit Calculation Alerts Narrative Assignments Agency Staff Person Office Position ManagementNotices Client Information Resource Information Payment Information Organization Management Home Studies Licensing Service Catalog Service Approval Payments Claims Overpayments Issuance N-FOCUS Service Authorization N-FOCUS functions include: • Client/case intake • Eligibility determination • Case management • Service authorization • Benefit payments • Claims processing and payments • Provider contract management • Management and government reporting • Interfaces with federal and other state organizations

  13. BDEBendex - Social Security, Forty Quarters, Prisoner Match HCFAHealth Care Financing Administration IRSFor 1099 Information DMVDepartment of Motor Vehicles IUCUnemployment Compensation Douglas County District Court IWDIRS Wage Data FCRFederal Case Registry SDXState Data Exchange SSI FIDMFinancial Institution Data Match SEWState Employer Wage CHARTS(Children Have A Right To Support - NE Child Support System) FPLSFederal Parent Locator Service(SSA - Social Security Admini-stration; EVS - Enumeration Verification System) SVESState Verification and Exchange System TOPFS Tax Offset Program JUSTICEDistrict court automated system TPLThird Party Liability Nebraska New Hire NDNHNational Directory of New Hires UIBUnemployment Insurance Benefits file N-FOCUS/CWIS and Interfaces N-FOCUS/CWIS MMIS(NE Medicaid Management Information System) ManagedCare BCBSBlue Cross Blue Shield

  14. Policy Cabinet N-FOCUS Steering Committee N-FOCUSUser Group N-FOCUS Business and Technical Support Team Project Direction • The User Group provides important feedback and direction from the field • The N-FOCUS business and technical support team interprets and implements system functions and technology • The N-FOCUS Steering Committee helps set future direction for the project • The Policy Cabinet provides high-level oversight

  15. Closing Comments • N-FOCUS was the first Nebraska state project to make use of the power and flexibility allowed with client/server and expert systems technology • The system gave public assistance staff needed communication (e-mail) and word processing capabilities • N-FOCUS interfaces to Federal and other State systems • A wide range of reports are generated and distributed • The project established a department-wide focus and allows case management in a single system • User involvement is emphasized to meet business needs • Maintainability and reusability were key design elements • N-FOCUS better positions Nebraska to add new programs and take advantage of changes in technology

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