ILLINOIS UNVEILS NEW TOOL TO STREAMLINE SERVICES AND SHARE INFORMATION
The State of Illinois has created a new information portal for community service providers designed to streamline reporting to the state's human service agencies. The new tool, called the Centralized Repository Vault (CRV), will help eliminate duplication and confusion, provide more efficient monitoring and auditing and allow service providers to focus more on their core community service missions.
"We recognize the critical role of our community service providers and want to help relieve them of a burdensome process that diverts time and resources away from providing critical services," said Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Michelle R.B. Saddler. "This new reporting process will allow our providers to reinvest the dollars saved from reduced administrative costs into programs, leading to an increased level of service to the community."
The Centralized Repository Vault accepts and securely stores data using an easy-to-use web form to make entries and upload documents for review by the state's five human service agencies - Illinois Department of Human Services, Department on Aging, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and Department of Public Health. Relevant data and documents from human service providers are collected at once and shared among these agencies, relieving providers of the administrative burden of repetitive requests for similar information. The collection of data in the CRV will be monitored to maintain proper oversight.
CRV is available to authorized personnel of community service providers that are currently under contract with a state human services agency. Service providers must register to receive authorization to use the system. To complete the registration form, providers must have an Illinois.gov ID (which can be obtained through the site) and the DUNS number of the provider organization; a link will be provided shortly.
CRV is a key component of the Management Improvement Initiative, a 2011 law aimed at increasing efficiency and easing the administrative burden on providers at a time of fiscal crisis in which they are working with limited resources and manpower.
