Revolutionizing Care For At-Risk Families

Healthy Families of Hamilton County was operating with slow, outdated computers and an unstable network with several vulnerabilities present on the server.  This frequently resulted in staff frustration and decreased productivity.  The workstations were inconsistent with different computer brands and mismatched software.  Additionally, the network was set up with roaming profiles for those users who shared computers, which greatly slowed the entire system.  A lack of technical expertise among staff exacerbated the problem, and also limited the organization’s ability to efficiently utilize software programs to aid in marketing and fundraising activities.

NPower conducted a Stable & Secure assessment with Healthy Families to evaluate its current technology infrastructure and identify areas in need of improvement.  As a result of the assessment, the organization became more aware of its technical short-comings and has created a plan and timeline for addressing the problem areas.  Executive Director Sherry Skelton indicates that, “NPower helped us verify where we were in terms of our technology and what we didn’t have.  Accordingly, we are now working on a grant request to obtain the funds to replace our existing computer system.” 

In addition to the assessment, NPower applied updates and other measures to ensure the current equipment was secure and functioning to the best of its ability.  Upon the receipt of funding for new hardware, NPower will be able to help Healthy Families set up its new system and provide ongoing support to maintain the technology investment.  Healthy Families staff also plans to utilize the training benefits available through NPower to become more effective in the use of desktop publishing and other relevant programs.   

While the full impact of NPower’s services remains to be seen, Healthy Families is now operating in a more secure environment and the system is running more efficiently and reliably.  NPower helped the Healthy Families staff to recognize the condition of its technology assets and the necessity of updating and maintaining them to realize benefits in staff productivity and mission delivery.  According to Sherry, “NPower has given us a plan to move forward and resources to help implement a better system.”  A more reliable and efficient technology infrastructure will improve the staff’s ability to research and share information for use during home visitations with families, and also reduce the amount of time spent dealing with cumbersome technical issues.