Data Analyst

Description • The Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for administering assistance programs (such as SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF) and protective services (such as Children, Youth, and Family Services (CYFS) and Adult Protective Services (APS)). • DHS strives to protect our most vulnerable citizens while providing efficient access to the services offered by local, state, and federal governments. • We aim to keep families together and help them to become self-sufficient. • The four-member Data Analytics team supports this department of over 600 staff members by managing and analyzing datasets and providing teams with data to measure and monitor program success and improve public access to services. Some recent projects piloted by the DHS Data Analytics team include: • Quality assurance dashboards that support agency efforts to improve the accuracy of eligibility determinations • Supporting the creation and maintenance of a real-time, data-rich org chart • A TANF dashboard drawing data from multiple sources into one easy-to-navigate dashboard, supporting division leadership in monitoring program expenditures • A comprehensive look at demographic caseload data to collaborate with local partners to better understand homelessness in the region • A suite of dashboards improving access to monitoring measures for the CYFS program, supporting program staff in ensuring the best possible outcomes for the families they serve Day-to-day tasks might consist of the following types of duties: • Read, write, and query data from state-run databases: Typically, the databases are queried using reporting software such as Crystal or Toad. The SQL-run applications are then fed State-approved scripts or in-house scripts that produce data for specific programs. Example: We run a query to download hotline data from the CYFS database weekly. We run this query for the entire calendar year to the current date. We then “stitch” the data together with historical information to produce a longitudinal look at hotline call volume. • Transform data: This is currently done with R Studio, Excel, and Power BI. Once the data is downloaded, we feed it into the data transformation software and run a script or edit the data structure to prep it for visualizations. Example: Using the hotline data example from above, once it's downloaded, we use R-Studio to connect current data through data dating back to 2015. This cuts down on manual work and speeds up the handling of millions of rows of data without using Excel. • Visualization/production: Using Power BI, we currently present the data that has been cleaned onto various dashboards for managers and the executive team to access. Other forms of production include formatting datasets via Excel and distributing them to case workers or supervisors for their teams to use. This takes place via Excel sheets or PDFs. Example: Once the data is cleaned, the hotline volume is graphed onto a line graph supplemented with various filters to produce a hotline page within the Weather Report (our internal DHS metrics dashboard). • Automation: We strive to automate as many of the daily/weekly products as possible through scripts. • Ad-hoc requests: This position is often asked to produce a report aggregating numbers for an ad-hoc request. This requires an investigation of the available database tables and writing the script. • Relationship building with SME: This position works closely with CYFS staff and, therefore, it constantly interacts and evaluates data with case workers to ensure accuracy. • General support/Miscellaneous: This includes technical support to staff, data analysis of patterns (ideally, analysis eventually comprises a larger portion of our tasks versus simply querying and presenting), and attending and participating in report-building meetings with state/county partners.