As TFACTS design and construction continues, an emphasis has been placed on identifying exactly what private providers will be asked to do and how they will do it. Right now, provider agency representatives enter some limited information via interfaces with current DCS applications such as TNKids and TNKids Financials. This will cease to be the case when TFACTS is established. Certain provider agencies will be asked to enter information directly into TFACTS, based on the type of work they do with children and families.
It became apparent that work needed to be done to identify exactly how all of this will work. This includes state interpretation of, and adherence to, related federal Administration for Children and Families policy. In January 2009, the ACF issued a Federal Program Instruction on this subject, which you can review (below).
At the request of DCS Core Leadership and in partnership with the Tennessee Alliance for Children and Families (TACF), the Providers and TFACTS Workgroup was established. The Providers and TFACTS Workgroup consists of DCS Subject Matter Experts and Private Provider representatives.
The purpose of the workgroup is to identify the applicable TFACTS components private providers will access, the level of access appropriate to these areas (read/update), and the specific agencies this affects. Provider representatives can also convey concerns, to include an evaluation of how this change will affect their agencies. The identification of this information will be presented in the form of recommendations to the following:
The applicable DCS program management representatives, for review and approval as appropriate. Additionally, to utilize as the foundation for updating provider policy and possibly contractual considerations.
The applicable TFACTS Team members/OIS representatives to assist with formally analyzing and mapping the approved areas to TFACTS, and to utilize as the foundation for developing security and training user groups.
The Providers and TFACTS Workgroup has met four times since sessions started in late February 2009, making recommendations based on reviews of DCS work flows and TFACTS components. Please look out for a new section we’ll be posting to TFACTS History that will include the meeting minutes from these workgroup sessions.
