1. A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson

2. Should we share at all? The debate
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Should we share at all? The debate
Benefits: To the project, to the CoC, to the client, to staff
Objections
Don’t get into legal trouble
And the answer is…

3. Building consensus Collaborative partners Existence of client record
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Building consensus
Collaborative partners
Existence of client record
UDEs (primarily demographics)
Release of Information
Program specific client info, Agencies, and services
HIPAA covered agencies
Administrative exceptions
Victim Service Providers
Grass roots consensus and how to nurture it
Grass roots consensus = requests for greater sharing from the people on the front lines

4. Thinking inside bigger boxes
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Thinking inside bigger boxes
Making a deal with the community
Important questions
Can the community be considered a legal entity?
Will the clients and/or the case managers agree?
Anticipate and prepare for objections

5. Special Case #1: Runaway & Homeless Youth
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Special Case #1: Runaway & Homeless Youth
Under 18 can’t legally enter into ROI agreement (unless emancipated)
No permission is required to enter data into the database, only for sharing
In our case, it turns out most youth are over 18.
Check for state and local exceptions

6. What could possibly go wrong?
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
What could possibly go wrong?
Historical Data
The Tangled Web
A Vendor in your corner
The best solution: successful housing placement
What’s it worth to you?

7. The clients’ interests
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
The clients’ interests
Two competing values: protecting the client’s privacy over sensitive information (and respecting their wishes on that) vs. Being able to meet their needs in a timely and efficient manner.
ASK questions: get a thorough understanding of the situation
CONSIDER alternatives
STRIKE a balance

8. A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Anonymity
Or: How to undo everything with one well-intentioned loophole
Using an anonymous client record is definitely required for certain circumstances
Most concerns can be resolved by less drastic measures
Know your options

9. Special Case #2: Victim Services
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Special Case #2: Victim Services
The law and resulting regulations are very clear about Victim Service providers participation in HMIS. VSP cannot enter any client level data into the HMIS or provide it to anyone else to be entered indirectly. Such clients can be served by other providers who can enter their data (if safe and appropriate).
Referrals to the VSP ought to be allowed
Data sharing through other media?
Anonymous data sharing?

10. A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Critical components
Buy-in from all the stakeholders (including the clients)
Release of Information
Legal compliance
Easy to understand and explain
Training

11. Special Case #3: Veterans Affairs
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Special Case #3: Veterans Affairs
VA participation is a very different set of challenges
Institutional fear of disclosure
Robust system security and data protocols
Complicated approval processes

12. Other options Some ideas we did not go with (but considered):
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Other options
Some ideas we did not go with (but considered):
Opening by fiat
Retroactive sharing
Virtual databases

13. The best time to open data sharing
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
The best time to open data sharing
An open system is like a tree and therefore the best time to start…
20 years ago
Today
As soon as you can convince everyone.

14. Thank you! Richard L. Dodson – HMIS Administrator
A Masters in Hard Knocks: The True Story of Open Data Sharing in Austin/Travis County, TX
Richard L. Dodson
Thank you!
Richard L. Dodson – HMIS Administrator
ECHO – The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition
austinecho.org
Twitter: twitter.com/atxecho
Facebook: facebook.com/atxecho