America boasts one of the oldest non-profit sectors in the world. With 1.5 million non-profits, the country now accounts for about 15% of global philanthropic organizations.
Human service agencies have always been at the forefront of serving humanity in the United States. From civil wars to economic downturns and natural calamities, nonprofit organizations (NGO's) and governmental social service agencies have helped to shape the American culture famed for its compassion and generosity.
However, in order for social service organizations to survive and grow in this fast-paced period, they must adapt to the evolution of casework technologies and solutions. Human services are now embracing current case management solutions to better their service, moving away from paper-based systems and toward computerized legacy applications.
Let's take a look at some of the tools that have been used in casework and how they have evolved in the future in this blog today.
The History of Social Work
The first non-profit organization was established in the 19th century by benefactors because the American government's case management service was unable to meet the needs of the general public on its own.
How It All Began
Association for the Improvement of the Condition of the Poor and the Children’s Aid Society were the first two non-profit agencies founded from 1843-1853 in the US. At the time, case management and all operations of a non-profit were paper based.
Computerization
Then came the time when organizations started to invest in computers. Human service agencies also relied on computers for payroll, case-related paperwork, financial record-keeping, and documentation. Like in the for-profit world, computerization helped to revolutionize the non-profit community and government organizations. Governmental agencies had the advantage initially but as computers became more attainable and cost effective to purchase, nonprofit organizations were able to capitalize on the benefits.
A Gradual Shift to Applications
Non-profit organizations did not begin to invest in desktop case management software until the early to late 1980s. Social care personnel were able to take advantage of the earliest digital case note systems thanks to these early computer applications that allowed manual data entry on computer. However, as technology progressed so did the evolution of casework technology.
The Benefits of the Evolution of Casework
Case management in the US has benefited many, but here’s how casework has benefited from the tech evolution and will continue to do so in the future.
Increased Caseload Capacity
One of the biggest benefits of using technology in case management has been the increase in the capacity of caseloads. Now social services can cater to a much larger number of clients without compromising on the quality of their service.
Fewer Errors and Compliance Risks
While casework evolution has paved the way for non-profit agencies to take on more clients and play a bigger role, it has also allowed them to reduce risks. From compliance issues to documentation errors, human services software has helped caseworkers mitigate problems efficiently.
Productive and Agile Case Managers
Case managers spend less time on mundane tasks and more on serving their clients. The promptness, accuracy, and productivity are the fruits of the evolution of casework technologies that have upskilled social workers.
Casework Solutions of Today
Today, we have much more modernized and advanced case management solutions such as the following.
Cloud-Based Human Services Software
Today, a substantial number of human services have shifted to cloud-based human services software alternatives. Those that haven't yet plan to do so as soon as possible in order to reap the many benefits of cloud adoption. Cloud-based software solutions enable case managers to benefit from increased accuracy, mobile accessibility, and automated features.
Higher Transparency, Better Funding
In 2022, businesses in the United States donated $100 billion to charitable organizations. American charity numbers are likely to rise as millennials overtake baby boomers as the largest donation generation. Nonprofits seeking to benefit from this fund strengthen their use of technology in order to promote transparency and gain the trust of potential contributors.
Improved Case Management Across the Board
Technologies such as cloud-based case management solutions, AI, and data will only help case managers improve on all fronts. From data entry to intake and assessment as well as facilitation, case management will benefit from the evolution of casework in every possible way.
What Does the Future Looks Like?
While the cloud and automation are at the helm of case management evolution today, in the future, case managers may be able to benefit from the following tools:
- Data Analytics in Social Service: Many nonprofit organizations are currently using data. However, the future of the social service industry can be considerably improved if they use technology to communicate and come collaborate to make better use of data.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and ML will pave the way for future generations of caseworkers and equip them to better cater to the community.
The Future with FAMCare
We know something about the evolution and future of case management solutions after 25 years of growth and knowledge. FAMCare is evolving and growing in tandem with the industry. We are more than simply software; we are a platform through which your agency, whether nonprofit or government, may collaborate for growth and optimization of your agency's capabilities.
To learn more, let's have a conversation.
