Laserfiche WebLink
Exhibit F <br /> <br />Clarity Human Services Secure Confidential and Private County <br />System Usage and Data Sharing for the Core Service Agencies <br />and Homeless Service Providers <br /> <br /> <br />This Exhibit provides that Core Service Agencies or Homeless Service Providers <br />and their representatives, staff and volunteers will be trained to safeguard the <br />information contained in the SMC secure and private network of Core Service <br />Agencies and Shelters. <br /> <br />It is understood that it is the legal obligation of the organization to provide internal <br />procedures to train staff on the security and confidentiality principles that guard this <br />secure and private network. <br /> <br />It is further understood that this agency and other partner agencies and their <br />representatives will share and protect information in the Clarity system as set forth <br />herein and as required by law. <br /> <br />Background <br />Core Service Agencies <br />The San Mateo County Human Services Agency (HSA) contracts with eight Core <br />Service Agencies in San Mateo County (the County) to work in tandem to provide <br />basic emergency and support services to County residents who live in poverty. <br />Since 1999, the Core Service Agencies have used a flat Access database to record <br />and track the services they provide. This Access database was a standalone <br />database within each Core Service Agency. One Core Service Agency utilized the <br />Efforts to Outcomes system to capture client data. One challenge in using these <br />tools was that each Core Service Agency calculated performance results, and <br />therefore community needs, differently. The County and other funders need <br />accurate, unduplicated, synthesized data in order to evaluate and understand <br />safety net needs. To achieve this, the County has implemented a new, Secure, <br />Private, Client Centric and Centralized system by Bit Focus (the vendor), called <br />Clarity Human Services (Clarity). Clarity went live on July 1, 2014. Set-up costs <br />and subscriber licenses for 2 years were paid for with the Measure A funding. <br /> <br />Homeless Service Providers <br />Since 2005, HSA has administered the HOPE (Housing Our People Effectively) <br />web based system, serving as the County’s Homeless Management Information <br />System (HMIS), which records, stores, and aggregates information regarding the <br />County’s homeless population. Currently there are approximately 200 active users <br />on the HMIS. They include county staff, trusted contracted providers of homeless, <br />housing, and behavioral health and recovery services. <br /> <br />On May 1, 2014, three federal agencies, (Department of Housing and Urban <br />Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and <br />the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)), jointly released the 2014 HMIS Data <br />Dictionary and 2014 HMIS Data Manual. These materials updated the HMIS Data <br />Standards, which provide for standardized data collection on homeless individuals <br />ATTY/AGR/2015/AMENDMENTS/AMEND NO.2 /COUNTY OF SAN MATEO FAIR OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER INFO & REFERRAL SERVICES <br />REV: 05-13-15 MLG <br />Page 10 of 14 <br />7.1.A. - Page 12