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Strategies & Considerations in the Development of Computerised Client Information Systems in a Welfare Setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

Julie Martin
Julie Martin*
Affiliation:
M.F.C.O. Research Unit
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Extract

This paper aims firstly to describe the existing Melbourne Family Care Organisation (M.F.C.O.) Service Information System (S.I.S.) and how it was developed. Although the system was developed to meet our own needs, it has also from the outset been considered to be an innovative demonstration to the field with the hope that other welfare agencies will organise their own systematic data collections to allow for pooling of information and thereby facilitating advocacy, lobbying and social comment. A copy of the computer program, therefore, is available free of charge to any agencies who consider it may be appropriate for them. Secondly, M.F.C.O. would like to share some of their experiences in the hope that other agencies interested in undertaking development of their own systems, may be able to avoid some of the pitfalls we encountered.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , Winter 1986 , pp. 15 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

(1) See Sisely, D. Further Development of the M.F.C.O. Service Information System: How It Developed, What It Looks Like Now and How It Is Used. (1983) Unpublished M.F.C.O. Document.

Other research staff who contributed at this phase were Ms. Pauline Hyland and Mrs. Phyllis Tinney.

(2) Mr. Michael Scorgie.

(3) The Individual Services Component of which the foster care collection is the first module, will be described in a later article.

(4) These observations arise from the author’s own involvement in co-ordinating the maintenance and further development of M.F.C.O.’s system.

(5) Ginsberg, P.E.: The Dysfunction Side Effects of Quantitative Indicator Production. Evaluation and Program Planning, 1984 (7).

(6) We are grateful for this assistance given by Mr. Ray Cheeseman.