DHS API Catalog and Documentation
Here you can find all of the APIs and associated methods available to you to consume DHS data and communicate with DHS’ databases.
Authentication is handled using OAuth 2.0 client credentials. With OAuth 2.0 client credentials, authenticating a client app is a two-step process: first, the client sends its API credentials (a client ID and secret) to an authorization server that returns an access token. Second, the client sends a request to the API with that access token and the API verifies it and either authorizes the call or rejects it with a 401 Unauthorized response.
Requests can be authenticated by sending an access_token via authorization HTTP header and Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key.
What is an API?
API is the acronym for Application Programming Interface, which is an intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. Think of the API as a menu where you are able to select what specific attributes you want your application to consume from DHS’ database.
When do I use an API?
Any time you want to consume real-time DHS data you would call an API method instead of consuming directly from DHS databases. DHS’ APIs define the rules that must be followed to interact with their databases. This API Catalog documents the various methods, models, and syntax used to either send or retrieve data.
DHS Applications
DHS manages and supports a robust technological ecosystem comprised of several applications.
1. Action Tracker: An application used by departments across Allegheny County which provides paper-less contract approval process to track various activities related to grants, contracts and executive actions. The system also provides extensive reporting capabilities for generating contract and fund statistics.
2. Allegheny Link: Allegheny Link is a referral and case tracking system used by the DHS Allegheny Link unit, which responsible for providing Information, Referral and Case Management services to County residents that are disabled or over 60 years of age. The system includes business rules and workflow steps to keep the process electronic with little or no dependence on paper processes.
3. Client Information & Payment System (CIPS): The CIPS application allows providers to create service authorizations and enter claims for services provided to clients. These claims are then invoiced monthly through an automated payment process that generates provider specific invoices which can be used by fiscal staff to make payments.
4. Client View: Client View provides a mobile friendly ‘one stop shop’ to obtain a snapshot of a given individual’s interaction with the various DHS program areas. This greatly reduces staff time to gather background information on a known DHS client.
5. DHS Assessment Tool: The DHS Assessment tool is the single point of entry and repository for all Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST) and Adult Needs and Strengths (ANSA) Assessment. It aims to provide a better assessment of needs to allow the agency to deliver targeted services to its citizens.
6. DialTrac: The DialTrac application is used to track ‘Director Action Line’ requests from a given DHS client, and associate the request to the client’s involvement in various other DHS transaction systems. It also gives DHS the ability to report on requests, and track amount of inquiries/complaints per Provider.
7. Enterprise Portal: The Enterprise portal is a centralized user access management portal that is used by DHS service desk to provide access to internal and external users, and manage their roles within DHS applications.
8. Homeless Management and Coordinated Intake (HMIS): The Homeless Management and Coordinated Intake (HMIS) application is an integrated electronic data tracking system which gives DHS the ability to perform eligibility screenings and collect client assessment data while meeting the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandates issued by the Federal Government.
9. Information Referral & Emergency Services (IRES): The IRES system is used by DHS IRES unit to provide 24/7 support in administering Involuntary Commitment (302) process for individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others in the community. The system gives the ability to authorize and monitor the 302 process as well as other key business functions such as authorizing transportation services, documenting information requests and incident reports.
10. Integrated Monitoring Tool (IMT): The IMT application is used by Contract monitors within various DHS program areas to perform periodic provider visits to gather data on how well the provider is adhering to its contract with DHS, and measure the overall effectiveness of provider in helping DHS to achieve its mission.
11. Jail Collaborative: The Jail Collaborative application was implemented to coordinate efforts among staff who work in the Jail system and service providers, with the intent to provide more targeted services and improve outcomes for incarcerated and newly released clients. The system brought in improvements in enrollment practices, including registration based on assessed need, staggered enrollments and better dissemination of information concerning programs available in jail and in the community.
12. Key Information and Demographics System (KIDS): The Key Information and Demographics System (KIDS) is a fully integrated Child Welfare management application designed to support the records management process from the initial reporting of allegations through the delivery and payment of services, supporting critical components of comprehensive case management.
13. Master Provider Enterprise Repository (MPER):The Master Provider Enterprise Repository (MPER) applications is a centralized repository of provider, contract and service information that is used by multiple DHS applications and program offices to perform essential business operations.
14. Reports Portal: The Reports Portal application is the centralized reports hosting platform that is utilized across DHS to access Reports and Dashboard on various program areas such as Behavioral Health, Children Youth and Families, and across DHS program areas.
15. Synergy (Enterprise Case management): Multiple DHS program areas perform case management activities as a critical part of their business process. Synergy is an application used by Youth Support Partners (YSP) and Homeless Case Management (HCM) to provide automation of their case management activities. In addition to helping streamline business processes, the application is also integrated with other DHS applications such as KIDS and Allegheny Link to allow better coordination.
16. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP): The ERAP application allows tenants access to real-time updates of their application status and an opportunity to view and respond to requests for documentation. It also provides processors a comprehensive workflow for the review of all relevant information to easily make an eligibility determination and request payments for rent and utilities.
17. COVID Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP): Allegheny County Economic Development was allocated $13.7M for the CHIRP program, which allocates funding assistance to the hospitality industry businesses that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To support this grant, a public-facing app was needed to allow businesses to easily complete an application, as well as upload supporting documents. A staff portal was also needed to assist in determining eligibility of a business and allowing staff to quickly process all applications. Both the public facing and staff portal were built on Salesforce.
18. Older Youth Pandemic Relief (OYPR): Allegheny County was allocated $1M, which was later increased to $3.7M, for the Older Youth Pandemic Relief program which provides funding assistance to youth aged 18-26 that are currently or previously had involvement with the Office of Children, Youth, and Families (CYF). A public online portal where youth could apply was open from June 7th – August 20th, 2021. A staff portal was also created to allow users to capture application management activities in the system, thus reducing the turnaround time for application creation, review, and processing allowing ACDHS and Action Housing to track payments provided to the client. This relieved some burden of manual processing of applications by ACDHS& ACTION Housing employees, thus freeing their time for more meaningful activities like eligibility review and fraud detection. Both the public facing and staff portal were built on Salesforce.
