North Carolina's Balance of State Homeless Management Information System

Importing Data Into CHIN

At this time, CHIN only allows agencies to import identifiable, client records to preserve data integrity.  If CHIN imported de-identified, aggregate data into the database, it will not be possible to determine an unduplicated count of homeless individuals served.  Of course, it is possible to merge aggregate statistics with CHIN’s HMIS statistics, but this should be handled outside of the HMIS environment. 


Another key consideration is adherence to CHIN’s policy of informed client consent.  Ideally, signed CHIN client consent releases should be on file for all records imported into CHIN.  There are specific HUD requirements concerning client privacy rights that CHIN must uphold in order to maintain compliance. 

    To prepare for importing data, our vendor Bowman Systems, will need:
  1. Data Dictionary – complete with table and field descriptions, data types, data formats, ranges of values, acceptable values, foreign keys, etc.
  2. Entity Relationship Diagram – detailed mapping of all relative data
  3. Actual data – full set of records across all tables and fields.  A sample of 10-20 records will be sufficient.
  4. ServicePoint™ provider (name and ID#) to receive the imported data – The imported data will inherit the default security settings of the provider that receives the data. If multiple providers are involved, please include the name and ID# for each.
  5. Type of data being imported – Provider, client, etc.
  6. Has this data, or a subset of this data, been imported before – If so, by whom?


Bowman Systems will be glad to set up a SecureFTP for agencies to upload data for analysis.

 

 

HUD’s HMIS XML Schema

HMIS XML Schema Package v. 2.8 - 4/17/2008

Eric Jahn, Alexandria Consulting LLC under contract with Abt Associates Inc.

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