This is the third in our series of posts outlining ways to make sure your caseworkers keep HIPAA compliant. Previously we talked about the training and the computer etiquette needed for being HIPAA compliant. Today we look at the things you need to do within your office environment to remain compliant.

When you have a client’s medical records, keeping them private is essential to ensuring you keep the trust of the people you work with. But breaking that trust has financial consequences as well.

Let’s begin 2019 with some good news…

This Christmas Brian Breach got into the spirit of giving, but with a twist; he decided to give to givers. He dressed down as if he were homeless, printed a sign that asked for donations to feed his family at Christmas, and stood in front of a mall with a tin cup. When anyone approached and dropped coins into his cup, he would give them a crisp new $100 bill. “I wanted to recognize the good giving people who would willingly share the little they have to help a stranger in need.” 

Social work offers case workers a unique perspective on the social issues that affect society. They often see the “big picture” more clearly than politicians or even clergy. We asked our social work colleagues what they see as the big social issues and what initiatives they consider most pressing for 2019. One issue rose above all others.

In the beautiful red rock canyon setting of Sedona, Arizona, Caroline Diehl works tirelessly in a cold shed every morning before sunrise filling backpacks with food staples to distribute to hungry local school children.

Ensuring your computer systems and employees are Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant is something that is of the utmost importance for agencies who deal with health information that must remain private and safeguarded. While training to be HIPAA compliant can vary based on your industry, one area that can reach across the board is proper computer etiquette.

Often the people closest to us escape our notice. An old classmate of mine from the Harvard Business School recently surfaced with a simple but profound message that instantly clarified an issue I’ve been pondering all year - what motivates the dedicated people who toil tirelessly in the nonprofit world? The message was unusual coming from a business school graduate. After all, most of my Harvard classmates went on to become captains of industry focused on making money for themselves and their stockholders. And, for the most part, they were pretty good at it. 

It is not uncommon for many to assume that technology is dehumanizing interactions and removing the need for face-to-face contact in the human services world. This assumption couldn’t be further from the truth, as technology and the right human services software are actually helping social workers deliver more family-focused care.

During a recent discussion with social workers engaged in public health, obesity was identified as the major chronic health problem facing the United States.

Two important events for fundraisers come together this time of year:

1. The holidays (and the giving spirit they engender).
2. The year-end tax deduction cutoff. 

This is fundraiser prime time. Everyone is, of course, aware of this and the competition is fierce. Creativity and innovation are indispensable. The same old smiling Santa on your nonprofit’s holiday card will no longer get the job done. 

After hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, social workers and service providers naturally focused on the immediate needs of their clients. They provided food, childcare, safety and support, among other services. However, a year has passed and the critical needs of these people, helpless in the face of mother nature’s awesome power, continue to evolve rather than abate.