Note: while your Program Performance Reports (PPRs formerly 704 Reports) were submitted in December, you are continuing to collect data for the year we are in. In fact, you are over a quarter into the next year. Be sure to review the data collection processes for consistency throughout the year so that you don’t have to scramble next December.
Question: Many of our CILs are beginning to offer webinars and podcasts to deliver information and training to people. Questions have been raised on how the CILs will capture service data related to digital touchpoints with individuals, and if they can count these individuals as served on the Program Performance Report. And, if so, where should they be captured. Obviously, most if not all of these are not part of any intake process (waiver or ILP) and will not be counted in that manner. The regulations are not very clear on this, as far as I can tell? Can you provide your opinion on this and/or share any regulatory guidance that may be helpful in answering this question.
Response: Usually with any group event, in person or electronically, the meeting cannot be IL Skills or even peer support because that individual participating isn’t required to have a goal and a CSR. Sometimes the group is made up on current consumers, in which case they might agree on a common goal for the course and could add it to a CSR, and then assess if that goal is met. Sometimes the members of a group have individual goals achieved by their participation. Otherwise that leaves us with only two choices — Information and Referral (I&R) or outreach.
Hits on a website or likes on a Facebook page cannot be I and R because you don’t really know if any specific information was viewed by the individual. Any numbers of people you have reached, therefore, would be outreach, not I & R.
Webinars or other group events that do not require that attenders have a CSR or goal could be considered I and R.
One final note. The area of electronic services is emerging, and the recent COVID19 is causing CILs to consider if use of webinar video and other such options are workable during the crisis — and will be viable options for services in the future. Stay tuned.