How to Better Connect with Your Nonprofit’s Participants Using Case Management Software

Your social good organization works tirelessly to improve the lives of the people you serve. An essential part of that is tracking participant progress. The most efficient way to do this is by collecting and analyzing your data with case management software. But for organizations stuck in manual processes or dated systems, managing participant data can add to your staff’s already busy workloads and, when mismanaged, can often delay or leave gaps in service delivery. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. There are tools available today to help increase participant connection and engagement while reducing time spent on administrative tasks, like data management.

Meet Apricot Connect by Social Solutions

Connect is a case management software feature within Apricot by Social Solutions that makes collaborating with and engaging your program participants easier than ever. Time-saving components like digital intake workflows and forms, Connect Schedule, direct messaging, and a self-service portal alleviates your staff’s administrative workload and gives participants more control and insight into their progress.

With many nonprofits reporting that they continue to face significant increases in demand for their services, manually enrolling this influx of new participants is no longer practical. Instead of spending hours collecting and inputting information for each new participant, digital intake forms can help capture necessary data in a matter of minutes. Not only will those participants be able to receive services quicker, but this process can save your staff hours—if not weeks—of time. In fact, for the Local Investment Commission (LINC), a Social Solutions client that uses Connect, staff saved 85 days’ worth of time with just one digital intake form alone. In addition, this online process can remove the risk of duplicate entries and human error and automatically adds new participants to the secure case management cloud database.

From their own devices, enrolled participants can view their progress, fill out key profile information—like demographic data that your organization utilizes in reporting—and complete additional forms, assessments, and surveys from anywhere at any time. Plus, Connect’s direct messaging functionality makes it easy to communicate with participants by allowing staff to send email and text notifications directly from the system portal. For instance, you can notify participants of a schedule change or request action from them with just a few clicks.

In addition, Connect Schedule allows participants to schedule and view all upcoming and past appointments in one place, making it easier to request services, access links, and review notes. Schedule also streamlines the ability to deliver both virtual and in-person services, removing barriers to service and making it more convenient for people to connect with the help they need in a way that works for them. 

This access to resources and progress data in the Connect self-service portal empowers participants by giving them more control and insight into their journey. Giving participants agency over their information not only increases engagement within your organization, but that engagement can also directly impact and further propel them towards their goals. The sense of ownership of their journey that this process can provide can positively impact their long-term success and help them visualize their progress over time.

And with robust case management software and Connect capabilities, your organization can effectively track and manage participant data, progress, and outcomes in one digital system. This alleviates your staff’s administrative workload, enabling them to do more in less time and help more people. So, what are you waiting for?

Ready to Connect?

Discover how Connect by Social Solutions can save your staff time, reduce administrative tasks, and empower your participants in a personalized demo of Apricot 360 case management software today.

If you are a Social Solutions client ready to implement Connect, reach out to your Account Manager to get started.