Collabor8 and Northwoods Partner for Success Across County Lines

DUBLIN, Ohio, Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Collabor8, a partnership of seven county Job and Family Services (JFS) agencies, is teaming with Northwoods to streamline business processes and share information and documents across county lines. With the participation of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Collabor8 partnership includes JFS agencies in Delaware, Hancock, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, and Wood Counties.

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This project is designed to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of human services program administration by sharing resources and staff across county agencies through an integrated call center and document management process. Once completed, the project will allow people living in these counties to apply for services through a call center, instead of applying at the agency in person. In addition, improved business processes will enhance customer service without adding resources.

"By working with Northwoods to both enhance and leverage existing technology our agencies will be able to substantially increase productivity," said Dave Wigent, Collabor8 Project Manager and Wood County JFS Director. "It was very important to all of us involved in this project to focus on streamlining how we provide services. Sharing resources across county lines was an opportunity to make the final result more efficient than any of us could have achieved alone."

The work process and software solutions provided by Northwoods use and improve upon existing systems and software — consolidating processes, improving the flow of information, and enhancing service levels. Each agency is adopting common business processes that are proven to increase efficiency and accuracy in Ohio and around the country. The solution is designed to grow and can accommodate additional agencies in the future if the Collabor8 partnership so chooses.

"It is exciting to work with Northwoods on this effort. The team of professionals at Northwoods has an in-depth knowledge of our business and helps us improve how we do our work, not just the systems and software we use," said Roxane Somerlot, Director of Marion County JFS. "Our new way of working means we can share resources across counties in creative ways that will result in broader access to services for our clients and enhanced productivity delivering greater public value."

"Northwoods is committed to helping Ohio's human services agencies be the most efficient and effective agencies they can be, and we are very happy to continue and improve our long-standing relationship with the Collabor8 counties," said Gary Heinze, President and CEO of Northwoods. "This is one of the many projects we are involved in that increases collaboration and efficiency in the delivery of these important services to citizens of Ohio and around the country."

Northwoods' Compass Software®, along with Hyland's OnBase® document management solution, allows agencies to manage the flow of people and documents to make the work of human services more efficient and accurate. Both Hyland Software and Northwoods are Ohio-based companies with proven track records of quality service.

About Northwoods

Northwoods is a privately-held, software development and services company headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. It is a customer-driven organization providing a full suite of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software solutions, including client scheduling and wait-line management, electronic document management, electronic forms, and workflow solutions for health and human services agencies. With its Compass Software® suite of products, Northwoods offers an unmatched level of capabilities and expertise in serving the needs of state and county agencies nationwide. Nearly 100 agencies in eight states use Compass Software® every day.

SOURCE Northwoods