How Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Standardized Grantee Reporting with FORWARD

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) sought to launch a state-wide housing stabilization program to support low-income immigrant and refugee households.

Facing challenges in implementation and community engagement, DSHS turned to FORWARD for a comprehensive solution. This case study explores how FORWARD enabled DSHS and its grantees to increase operational capacity and administer innovative programming at scale.

Challenges

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services faced significant hurdles in launching its state-wide housing stabilization program, including:

Limited Capacity for Program Implementation

DSHS lacked the resources and infrastructure needed to effectively implement the program on a state-wide scale.

Fragmented Community Engagement

Engaging with numerous Health and Human Services organizations performing outreach and application intake while ensuring cohesive efforts and standardized reporting was a major challenge.

Inadequate Tracking and Evaluation

Without a robust system for tracking and evaluating program impact, DSHS struggled to measure the effectiveness and reach of their efforts.

Solution

FORWARD provided DSHS with a powerful platform tailored to meet their specific needs, offering the following solutions:

Comprehensive Program Administration

FORWARD’s platform streamlined the entire program administration process, from application intake to fund distribution, allowing DSHS to manage and scale the program efficiently.

Enhanced Community Engagement

DSHS facilitated collaboration with 12 health and human services organizations through FORWARD’s centralized program management platform, ensuring a standardized application process and access to real-time data monitoring and reporting. Partner organizations also received ongoing support from FORWARD, which led to more effective program outreach and implementation.

Real-Time Impact Tracking and Standardized Grantee Reporting

With FORWARD’s centralized data management, advanced data tracking, and reporting tools, DSHS and its grantees could monitor program performance in real-time, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Our Impact

The collaboration between DSHS and FORWARD yielded remarkable results:

• Over $18 million in financial aid is being distributed to low-income households across Washington State.

• The program successfully engaged 12 health and human services organizations, enhancing community involvement and support.

• Real-time tracking and comprehensive reporting enabled DSHS to measure program success and make data-driven decisions.

The partnership between the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and FORWARD exemplifies how leveraging advanced program management tools can overcome operational challenges and drive impactful social programs.

By enhancing capacity, streamlining administration, and standardizing reporting, FORWARD helped DSHS and community organizations deliver critical support to vulnerable households across the state.

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