Quarterly Data Quality: Looking back, looking ahead (and why you’ll want to attend January’s User Group!)
In January of 2020 ICA introduced HMIS users from around the state to the new Quarterly Data Quality (QDQ) process. Now, two years later, there are some significant achievements to look back upon and plenty to look forward to.
In the first two quarters of 2020, when QDQ was new to everyone, nearly 60% of all providers that should participate did participate. This rate has been consistent and there is a marked difference in statewide data quality as a result.
HMIS users and state funding partners got together to review the scoring rubric for QDQ and made changes that better reflect the reality of the work being done.
In 2021 the CoC Coordinators and state funding partners piloted a process to focus on specific project types in specific quarters. Meetings between funders and agencies were set up to discuss data quality, talk about solutions, and extra trainings and resources were made available to improve data quality.
There are times when providers don’t have the best data quality one quarter and then improve greatly in the next quarter. At the end of 2021, for example, 80% of the list of providers that fell below the low threshold for scoring improved their scores in the following quarter.
Later this month (January 2022), the HMIS User Groups will focus on QDQ. If you have questions about the process, the scoring, or anything else related to QDQ, this is an excellent opportunity to ask them.
Your ideas about data quality matter. Updates and improvements to the QDQ process for 2022 can be made and sometimes we just need to learn about your ideas. Contacting ICA through the Helpdesk is a great way to share those ideas.
The QDQ process has started well. People are invested, data has improved, and the stories of the individuals and families experiencing homelessness have been augmented by the details in the data. We appreciate all the hard work that goes into making this process work and we look forward to the possibilities of 2022.
The User Group Meeting on January 27th, 2022 will focus on Quarterly Data Quality. By that date agencies should have entered their data from quarter 4 of 2021. If you plan to attend that User Group, which will take place from 1 PM – 2:30 PM, it might be helpful to run a QDQ report for your providers prior to the User Group Meeting for your reference. To register for the User Group, please CLICK HERE.