The Head Start Bureau has announced the completion of the HSFIS Software for all programs, including pre-school Head Start, Early Head Start, and Migrant Head Start.

The HSFIS system is designed to:

• provide a fully automated approach to case-management;
• improve the capacity for record-keeping while reducing staff time; and
• allow the analysis of data at the local level for reports, self-assessment, and program planning.

Head Start programs seeking assistance in becoming fully automated are encouraged to contact their Regional Office for resources. Regional Offices can provide specific information regarding how to assess hardware and personnel needs, and to develop a funding plan. If hardware needs cannot be met through basic grant funds, an one-time supplemental request may be submitted to the Regional Office to cover those expenses.

The Regional Office and/or Quality Improvement Center will select a group of "lead agencies" that will be trained and available to assist neighboring agencies with the HSFIS implementation. Training sessions will be conducted by the HSFIS contractor, Cleverex Systems, Inc., in Rockville, MD, from May 1998 through March 1999.

For more information, please contact your Regional Office or QIC. Below you will find a description of the technical support network, as well as hardware and software specifications.

HSFIS Technical Support Network

Introduction

As a HSFIS user, technical assistance will be available to your Head Start program through the HSFIS Technical Support Network. This network is comprised of HSFIS User Groups, Head Start Quality Improvement Centers (HSQIC's), Regional Offices, the HSFIS Contractor (CTI/Cleverex), and the Head Start Bureau.

All HSFIS sites will be assigned to a HSFIS User's Group by their Regional Office. Each group will consist of 5-7 HSFIS sites, one of which will be designated as the HSFIS User Group Lead Agency.

Obtaining Technical Assistance

Below are step-by-step instructions for obtaining assistance:

Step 1 Review the HSFIS documentation provided with the software.
Answers to questions related to basic operation of HSFIS are contained in the HSFIS documentation that is provided with each software release.

Step 2 Contact members of your HSFIS Users Group
Your HSFIS User's Group is your primary source of technical support. The HSFIS User's Groups are coordinated by your HSQIC and/or Regional Office. Depending upon your region, you might be able to contact your HSQIC and/or Regional Office HSFIS Liaison for further assistance. These HSFIS Liaisons will inform the Lead Agencies under which circumstances they will be available to provide assistance.

Step 3 HSFIS Users Group Lead Agency contact HSFIS Contractor
If your problem cannot be resolved by your HSFIS User Group Members, your lead Agency will then contact the HSFIS Technical Support Center, run by the HSFIS Contractor, for assistance.

Step 4 HSFIS Contractor contact HSFIS User
If necessary, a HSFIS Technical Support Specialist will contact the user directly for further clarification of the problem, and to provide direct assistance to the user.

Note: Non-Lead Agency HSFIS Users should not contact the HSFIS Contractor directly unless first contacted by a HSFIS Technical Support Specialist.

HSFIS Hardware Requirements

HSFIS Software Requirements

HSFIS Enhancement Software

* This software would allow sites to develop custom reports. Note: This software is not needed for running reports which come with HSFIS. Contact the Seagate Software sales line at 800-877-2340 for more information about this product.

Head Start Quality Improvement Center's HSFIS Liaisons

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