Coordinated Entry (old)

Coordinated Entry provides a single doorway for people to walk through to access many different community resources.  The Coordinated Entry team develops, implements, and oversees a system that connects individuals experiencing homelessness to housing supports and other services like healthcare. Our team assists local homeless service providers by providing trainings as well as outreach and assessment services.

Within Coordinated Entry, there are 5 core components:

  • Coordinated Assessment
    • Vulnerability index tool used to prioritize clients most in need of housing services in Austin/ Travis Co.
    • Administered by direct staff members in the community

     

  • Outreach and Navigation
    • Processes used to locate clients, connect them to resources, and assist with documentation in preparation for housing
    • Triage methods used to help clients end their homelessness

     

  • System Training and Development
    • Direct assistance provided to support partners in utilizing best practices to end homelessness

     

  • Health Care and Housing
    • Processes that support integration of healthcare services into the homeless services system
      • Care Connections is a CommUnityCare network clinic focused on providing care to vulnerable patients by connecting them to medical, behavioral, and social services including housing programs
    • Interdisciplinary approach to connect clients experiencing homelessness to mainstream benefits

  • Referral Coordination and Accountability
    • Matching highest client need to appropriate and available community programs
    • Following client progress through interventions and providers

     

Coordinated Entry Training Opportunities

  • Request Outreach and Navigation Training

    Outreach and Navigation systems bridge the gap between homeless and housing, and allow programs to house highly vulnerable clients without delay. ECHO’s Outreach and Navigation Training provides a skill set which allows effective triage and assessment of a client’s situation, and teaches the user to provide proactive next steps. Understanding the community’s outreach systems and demonstrating effective navigation are the first steps towards HMIS proficiency and additional HMIS trainings.

    Step 1: Complete HMIS New User Training
    Step 2: Email Katie Rose to schedule Outreach and Navigation training

  • Apply to become a trained Coordinated Entry assessor

    If you are interested in becoming a community assessor, ECHO requires a progression of skills, comfort, and data entry in HMIS before completing the Coordinated Assessment training. This is to ensure better data collection and for new assessor to feel comfortable with the skills they will be required to complete once trained.

    The attached Training Requirements & Expectations and Assessor Interest Form forms should be reviewed and completed by those interested in being trained.  We encourage agencies to think about workflow and the best ways to utilize an assessor on staff before submitting the Assessor Interest Form.

    Step 1: Complete HMIS New User Training
    Step 2: Complete Outreach and Navigation Training
    Step 3: Must use HMIS and show competency for a minimum of one month to ensure data quality
    Step 4: Review Training Requirements & Expectations
    Step 5: Complete Assessor Interest Form and submit to alesandradominguez@austinecho.org and kaleighphelan@austinecho.org
    Step 6: Coordinated Entry team will review your interest form and reach out with next steps to set up training