DHS NEWS March 2016
“ “We’re reaching so many more people and more people are able to access us.” Andrea Bustos, Allegheny Link Program Manager, in “Allegheny Link expands to reflect increased role in helping county residents”
Allegheny Link expands to reflect increased role in helping county residents The Allegheny Link’s offices in the Human Services Building offer a visual clue to the change the program has undergone in the past few years. Once housed mostly in two interior offices in the Human Services Building (HSB), Downtown, the Allegheny Link in December 2015 expanded to a space that facilitates teamwork and collaboration. There, Allegheny Link service coordinators have specially designed software that allows them to efficiently answer a total of about 130 calls a day. The calls from county residents, human service providers and others touch on everything from services for people who are homeless to resources for new parents. The room bustles, not only because of call volume but because, by design, coordinators also are making links among themselves in their daily quest to find solutions to consumers’ questions. “They bounce ideas and resources off each other. It’s so much better to take a minute and talk to each other face-toface, rather than to email,” said Andrea Bustos, Allegheny Link Program Manager, in describing a benefit of the new space. The Allegheny Link also has a fresh logo to highlight the change in its name. Previously known as the Allegheny Link to Aging and Disability Resources, the Allegheny Link is part of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Community Relations (OCR). Pushing the modifications at the Allegheny Link have been coordination of intake and referral to two crucial support programs offered by several providers in the county. In March 2015, the Allegheny Link became the county’s information and intake source for services for residents who lack stable housing. And since January 2016, the Allegheny Link additionally became the “front door” for those who request the maternal, infant
Above, the Allegheny Link moved in December to new space in the Human Services Building (HSB), Downtown. The new setup allows intake specialists to consult on calls more easily. Left, the Allegheny Link’s new logo.
and early childhood supports known as home visiting programs. (See the accompany article “Allegheny Link now making Home Visiting referrals.”)
HOW TO REACH THE ALLEGHENY LINK
By phone, 1-866-730-2368 By TTY, 412-350-5205 By email at Allegheny Link In person at the Human Services Building, One Smithfield St., Downtown Pittsburgh.
The Allegheny Link’s evolving role has meant that its staff has grown to currently 10 service coordinators assigned to answering phones, emails and walk-in inquiries; a service coordinator working in the field to assist people who are homeless who do not have regular access to a phone or email; and two supervisors, in addition to Andrea and Joseph Elliott, Manager, Specialized Integrated Services and Supports.
While the Allegheny Link has evolved since being established as a pilot program by the state in 2005 with two staff members, its basic mission to ease access to service and supports that promote independent living remains intact. In 2014, the Allegheny Link launched software that vastly improved the ability of staff to conduct comfortable, seamless intake conversations that explore, with the consumers’ consent, a myriad of life situations for which solutions may be found and suggested. “We prescreen for any and all programs that we are aware of. We also advocate for consumers if they have hit barriers to accessing those needed supports,” Andrea said, as examples of how Allegheny Link service coordinators can assist. “We try to make sure all of their needs are met, and we take pride in being able to look outside the box and piece together multiple resources to meet a difficult need.” While it has been hard work to take on the additional roles required of the Allegheny Link, Andrea said the rewards of an expanded service have been many. “We’re reaching so many more people and more people are able to access us. They’re able to take advantage of our wealth of knowledge and ability to conduct assessments for possible access to programs they might not have been aware of – transportation, food assistance, income supports. Anything we can help people access, we will.” Besides their knowledge, Allegheny Link service coordinators are trained to offer a warm and welcoming approach to those who reach out for help. “The feedback we’ve received from clients has been really positive,” Andrea said. “When they get someone on the phone at the Link, they’re surprised at how pleasant and helpful the service coordinators are. “Even if callers aren’t ready for some services we discuss, they know where to go when they are ready.”
Allegheny Link now making Home Visiting referrals The Allegheny Link is now the county’s source for referrals and information about home visiting programs, after more than a year’s work by stakeholders and personnel at the county Department of Human Services (DHS) and Health Department to raise the profile and use of the programs. Already a resource for housing and homeless services and disability programs, the Allegheny Link, 1-866-7302368, is also the number to call for referral to the county’s home visiting programs. These programs provide knowledgeable specialists to work with parents and prospective parents about a plethora of issues impacting child development prenatally up to age 6, including health and lifestyle issues, developmental screenings and curriculum, and more.
See accompanying article, ”Allegheny Link expands to reflect increased role in helping county residents.”
“Our county’s home visiting community now has one clear and strong voice,” said Kimberly Eckel, senior adviser in the office of Data Analysis, Research and Evaluation (DARE) who leads DHS’s participation in the Home Visiting Initiative. The initiative, with $500,000 in grants from the Heinz Endowments and Hillman Family Fund, got underway in mid-2014 as a stakeholders’ group began examining ways to help home visiting programs reach parents and children in a more coordinated, efficient way. Stakeholders sought a single point of contact for referrals and the Allegheny Link, as a longstanding resource with trained specialists, was a natural fit. The coordinated referral system will accomplish several objectives. Among them, program slots that had gone unused because people were not finding them can now be filled; programs will no longer have to use their own limited resources for outreach; families in need may receive intervention more quickly that can improve their welfare; and resources may be found for unaddressed issues discovered by trained Allegheny Link specialists as they gather information to make referrals. Besides DHS and Health Department representatives, the stakeholders’ group includes Healthy Start; Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh; Alliance for Infants and Toddlers; Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center; Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC; Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh; YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh; Focus on Renewal; The Kingsley Association; Providence Connections; South Hills Interfaith Ministries; Primary Care Health Services; and Family Resources. The group’s work has also included consulting with the county’s medical community. Kim and Health Department staff met with pediatric and gynecology practitioners during the research and development phase of the project to discuss the benefits of home visiting programs and to understand the needs of these key partners. Dr. Karen Hacker, Director of the Health Department, will be leading the implementation of outreach to the medical community this summer. For the Allegheny Link referral process, DHS internet technology contractor Deloitte designed a web portal that is used by home visiting program personnel to update their program’s availability and to pick up referrals. Allegheny Link service coordinators have new software functionality that can allow them to direct families to programs for which they are eligible. Allegheny Link staff can access information on
program availability and program characteristics so they can help parents make well-informed selections. Although the Allegheny Link is the primary source for home visiting, programs also can continue to enroll participants. Further, in the near future, automatic referrals will be made through the Office of Children, Youth and Families. Home visiting programs participating in the initiative are Family Support Centers’ Parents as Teachers; Early Head Start; home-based Head Start; Healthy Start; Nurse Family Partnership; Healthy Families America; Title V nurses; First Steps; and Reach Out to Families. Participation in home visiting program is voluntary. Following a competitive bidding process, marketing firm Blender Inc. has been selected by the Health Department to develop a public relations campaign to promote the Allegheny Link to Home Visiting.
The view from a home visiting provider Sarah Warner, Director of Information Systems for the federal Healthy Start program, based in Homewood, participated in the Home Visiting Initiative. Three days into the Allegheny Link beginning its role with the project, eight referrals had been made to Healthy Start, whose paraprofessionals and social workers focus on supporting pregnant women, their partners and children up to age 2. Healthy Start administrators always had the desire to promote home visiting, especially in the medical community, but doing so would have meant taking time and money away from people in need. So Sarah was eager to join the stakeholders group early on and is embracing the Allegheny Link’s use for coordinated referrals. “Through it, we are able to reach a different population than we usually would. It’s a huge help to us,” she said. Being involved in the planning process in itself was beneficial and will continue to be so, Sarah added. “We’ve learned a lot about each other and how home visiting works in the county and having that open line of communication.”
412 Youth Zone supports hopes and dreams of youth, community With expressions of excitement, hope and gratitude, representatives of Allegheny County, Auberle and other stakeholders on March 16 dedicated the 412 Youth Zone, a one-stop center Downtown where a plethora of services are helping the county’s transition-aged youth build bright futures. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Department of Human Services (DHS) Executive Marc Cherna, Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik and John P. Lydon, Chief Executive Officer of Auberle human service agency were among keynote speakers during the ceremony at the innovative center. Joining them were Auberle Board Chairman Vince Locher, Aimee Plowman, 412 Youth Center director, and Jeanetta C., a young adult who discussed how the center has helped her.
Representatives of the DHS Youth Support Partners Unit attended the dedication of the 412 Youth Zone center, Downtown. From left are Amanda Hirsh, YSP Unit Manager; Stephanie Robinson, Youth Support Coordinator; DHS Executive Marc Cherna; and YSPs Kelsey Musgrove, Crystal Wilson and Chris Neugebauer. Marc shares a laugh with Jeanetta C., a Youth Zone participant who spoke at the dedication.
The center encompasses nearly 14,000 square feet over two floors in the Wood Street Commons building. Auberle, based in McKeesport, operates the 412 Youth Zone under a $2 million contract with DHS secured through a competitive bidding process. Funding primarily comes through DHS’s independent living grants. The center offers everything from recreation to behavioral health counseling and employment services for youth ages 16 to 24. The goal is to help current and former foster youth and youth who are homeless find coordinated, centralized support in their transition to adulthood.
The center developed after a DHS study, "I'll Never Get Used To It: Young People Living on the Street", detailed the plight of homeless young adults in the county. The study incorporated their opinions, which included a recommendation to start a “one-stop shop” to consolidate services that typically were scattered and not accessed in an efficient way. With its centralized location, myriad supports and strong volunteer component, the 412 Youth Zone “is really what we envisioned and we are really hopeful that it will improve outcomes for youth in many different ways,” Marc said in his remarks at the ceremony.
Auberle CEO John Lydon said the center will foremost be a place for a warm welcome for the county’s youth, mirroring the service mission of Auberle, a faith-based, Catholic agency. That ‘welcoming’ atmosphere had been identified by the DHS Youth advisory board, System Improvement through Youth (SITY) as central to any one-stop center, and also by youth at Auberle who gave input into the design of the 412 Youth Zone space. Youth also designed the center’s logo and selected the bright colors used on the center’s walls and used in its furniture. “These youth tend to get lost at this point of life. What we’re trying to do is give them a sense of belonging regardless of what issues and circumstances they are working through,” John said a few months ago as work on the center progressed. “We really want to give the youth a sense of ‘This is where you belong, where you feel wanted, loved and helped, and you can just walk in.’ “ Jeanetta C., 20, told the audience at the dedication what the 412 Youth Zone has meant to her. “When I am here, I feel loved,” she said. “You have a sense of belonging.” The center is motivating, she added, explaining she plans to become a certified nursing assistant. Currently, 412 Youth Zone has 38 partners providing or assisting in the areas of life skills; medical and behavioral health; education; prevention education; housing counseling; workforce training; childcare and parenting support; food (provided and nutrition education); arts; legal aid and recreation. The center is stocked with computers, televisions, a washer and dryer, shower, kitchen and fitness room. Classes such as yoga or the Jim Casey Opportunity Passport financial education program, sponsored by DHS, are held. Besides Allegheny County and DHS partners in the 412 Youth Zone include Action Housing, Inc.; BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania; Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Dr. Elizabeth Miller; Heinz Endowments; Massaro Corp.; PPG; The Wilson Group, Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America; Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board; University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs; and UPMC.
Kudos: Tirzah Harper A graduate student in Pitt’s School of Social Work interning at a DHS provider agency wrote to Allegheny Link managers to praise service coordinator Tirzah Harper for her help with a difficult case. “Tirzah was respectful, courteous, and timely in figuring out a plan of action and followed through to the end. I appreciate the level of service that was provided through Allegheny Link,” the student wrote, additionally praising Tirzah’s “incredible work ethic.”
HUD Continuum of Care grants will move Rapid Rehousing forward The receipt of nearly $15 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) includes funding that allows the Department of Human Services (DHS) to continue embracing a promising new way of assisting people who are homeless, known as Rapid Rehousing. While the grants are primarily renewals for an array of more traditional housing supports, they also allow DHS to pursue seven new Rapid Rehousing programs, making a total of nine that the department will be administering once the additional programs get under way in the next few months in the Allegheny County Continuum of Care. Rapid Rehousing assists individuals and families who have been living in shelters or on the street to quickly acquire stable housing, ideally within 30 days. The approach operates under a “Housing First� philosophy that emphasizes stabilizing individuals and families in housing as the first step in helping them improve their circumstances. After being moved to a Rapid Rehousing program unit, clients work toward self-sufficiency: Securing a job that pays for permanent housing is a program goal. To that end, Rapid Rehousing participants receive intensive case management and must participate in case reviews every three months to ascertain what else can be done to accomplish self-sufficiency. Clients are required to find their own apartment and sign a lease in their own name, although the rent is shared by the program and client while they are enrolled. Clients are assessed every three months for continued eligibility and any ongoing need for rental assistance. The hope is that program participants receive rental assistance for a short period of time, ideally six to nine months, and then are able to take over the full rental payments for their apartment when their stay in the program ends. Rapid Rehousing programs are included in the HUD award along with Transitional Housing programs, which provide housing with financial support for two years; Permanent Supportive Housing for people with disabilities; and Safe Haven housing for people who chronically live on the street. The HUD grants to DHS are part of applications for 51 Tier 1 housing programs that provide 1,758 beds in 981 units of housing. The new Rapid Rehousing programs will provide 92 units and 129 beds. The Tier 1 grants also increase funding by about 5 percent to housing support programs that have not had an increase in a while. Those include Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing programs for which DHS has demonstrated a continuing need even with the emphasis of Rapid Rehousing Programs in the Continuum of Care. The grants also cover administrative and project planning costs relative to housing. Rob Eamigh, Housing Program Administrator in the Office of Community Services, said the $1,109,089 allotted for the seven new Rapid Rehousing programs is welcome news that has excited those at DHS who work in housing supports. The county was one of 20 jurisdictions nationwide that piloted a Rapid Rehousing program six years ago. That program continues; another program operated by Mercy Behavioral Health Systems began operating in the fall of 2015.
Another highlight of the grants is continued funding for the department’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the recently established Coordinated Intake system that is carried out by the Allegheny Link under the Office of Community Relations. DHS administrators are awaiting word on Tier II applications for 26 grants totaling $4,456, 347, which includes a potential of three brand new bonus projects that could bring additional funds into the Continuum of Care.
Generous donors once again help Holiday Project fulfill wishes Fulfilling the wishes of children in need at the holidays became a more successful process in 2015, thanks to changes made to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Holiday Project operation and generous donations of goods and money. The Office of Community Relations (OCR) early in 2015 secured a space for the Holiday Project Workshop in Forest Hills, optimizing storage and time considerations that had become issues at the Human Services Building (HSB), Downtown, where the Workshop had been held. Workshop volunteers yearly pack hundreds of bags with donated toys, clothing, books, stuffed animals and more to fulfill wish lists sent to Holiday Project organizers by DHS caseworkers. The Forest Hills space also proved its worth in another way: People coming to the shop could see the Project at work. That wasn’t always possible at the HSB and getting a firsthand look encourages donors and sponsors, said Ondréa Burton, Manager of the OCR Event and Donations Team who oversees the Holiday Project. “People could see that they were contributing to something that really benefits kids,” Ondréa said. The use of KidBoost, a software application that, among other things, tracks needs, wishes and inventory, assisted in helping to ensure all children received gifts. With the software, it is possible to see at a glance what wishes are outstanding so that sponsors can be contacted to ask if they could help, which many did. Also new this year to the Project was the use of gift boxes, topped with Holiday Project stickers, for teens, as an added touch to let the children know they are special. The boxes were stocked with hand bags, perfume, jewelry, hats, socks, belts, books and more. The Holiday Project really wouldn’t be possible with the many individuals and organizations that sponsor children, hold office drives, provide donations and volunteer to help fill children’s wish lists. Among the key groups who deserve special mention include UPMC, PNC Bank, ERT, Home Depot, Wells Fargo, Centimark, CityCo Credit Union, Jones Day, and Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky.
Shoes, a haircut and a remote-control car Home Depot of Greater Pittsburgh employees, this year, demonstrated the type of exceptional acts of kindness seen often with the Holiday Project. The employees sponsored 20 children, giving bicycles to all as part of their gifts. When an employee delivered the bikes, he arranged to set them up at the Forest Hills workshop and told Ondréa that he and his colleagues were dedicated to doing anything they could to make the lives of Project recipients better.
One sponsored child, a six-year-old boy, had asked for shoes, a request that the Home Depot employee found especially touching. “The employee told me he had never done without. For him, it was hard to comprehend that there were children who, through no fault of their own, were in these circumstances,” Ondréa said. He asked Ondréa to make sure that the boy had received his shoes and also wanted to know if he needed or wanted anything else. When she relayed the caseworker’s confirmation that the boy had received the shoes but hadn’t been able to get a haircut he needed because of lack of money, the Home Depot employee not only got him a gift certificate for the barber in his neighborhood, but also got him clothing and the remote-control car he had wanted. “It’s beautiful how many people contribute to making the Holiday Project a success, and the generosity and kindness people show is remarkable,” Ondréa said.
Donor remembers ILI youth with hundreds of gift bags Separately from the Holiday Project, Sue Gove, a member of the Children, Youth & Families Advisory Board, donated 200 filled gift bags filled with a variety of items, including pajamas, blankets, towels and stuffed animals, for older teens and younger adults who participate in the DHS Independent Living Initiative (ILI). Sue has made a similar donation for several years. The youth who received them were, as always, delighted with the presents. Cortez Carey, education liaison for the Independent Living Initiative, shows gifts donated to participants of that program.
Homebuilders is now option for intensive case management The Department of Human Services (DHS) has implemented an evidence-based, intensive case management program designed to keep children safe while avoiding placement. Called the Homebuilders® Intensive Family Preservation Program, it is being rolled out after hiring and training of staff overseen by the model’s developer, the Institute for Family Development of Federal Way, Washington. After issuing a Request for Proposals, Auberle of McKeesport and Pressley Ridge of the North Side received five-year contracts to provide Homebuilders® in the county. Each agency hired supervisors and
therapists under the auspices of the institute and DHS. Staff were trained in the classroom and in the field and work is progressing to fully implement the model. Katie Stoehr, Manager of Program Operations in the Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF), said DHS selected Homebuilders® as its means of intensive family intervention after researching other evidence-based models. Homebuilders® will only be used in instances of child safety that would otherwise result in immediate placement or where a child cannot be returned without intensive services, Katie emphasized. Participation is voluntary and referrals to Homebuilders® must be made by CYF administrators. Information and education about the service continues to be distributed to caseworkers. Fidelity to the model is crucial in achieving results, Katie added, so the practice will be closely monitored to ensure that training and standards implemented by the Institute for Family Development are followed. Employing Homebuilders® not only fits the Department’s practice of working to support families in finding solutions to their needs and keeping them intact, it also boosts DHS’s commitment to the Child Welfare Demonstration Project and its goals, which include reducing congregate care and out-of-family placements. Studies show that use of the model results in avoiding of placement or hospitalization for youth in at least 71 percent of cases. The model is listed in the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. Each Homebuilders® provider has a team of four therapists and a supervisor. Therapists on average will have a caseload of two families, but it’s expected that the teams will be supporting a combined minimum of 18 families yearly. The small caseload reflects the intensive care that therapists will put into cases. They are available around the clock to work with families in devising solutions to myriad issues. Katie described the intervention as an “all-hands-on-deck” scenario to improve child safety and family functioning. “Therapists will be there right away and as much as they have to be. And the parent has to be willing to do this, too.” Homebuilders® is very much tailored to the family situation. For example, if the issue is that the parent can’t get a teen to school, then Homebuilders® will come at 7 a.m. to coach the parent. If the family consists of a single parent who needs but can’t develop structure for the family, the therapist will be there during the day to help build structure. “They’re getting a family out of crisis and to where they can function and be linked with long-term help if that’s what they need,” Katie said. Shelley Leavitt, Ph.D., Associate Director, Institute for Family Development, who attended some of Allegheny County’s trainings, likened the service to a “Supernanny” approach to intervention, with therapists present “when everybody’s there and everything is going on – that’s the time to be there to figure out how to help.” Therapists on average are expected to be involved intensively for four weeks, with follow-up to ensure goals are being met and safety maintained.
Allegheny County is the only jurisdiction in Pennsylvania using Homebuilders®. Other locations where it is in use are in the state of Washington; Louisiana; Florida; Washington, D.C.; British Columbia; and Hawaii. Shelley praised DHS for its thorough investigation of Homebuilders® and the work the department is putting into it, noting that starting up a program is hard work. “It’s going great,” she said. “There’s a lot of support.”
DHS participates in Breakthrough Series Collaborative to improve trauma-informed assessments and planning A team from the Department of Human Services (DHS) spent 10 months participating in a national collaborative to study, refine and promote trauma-informed practices related to common assessments. The participation underscores the recognition at DHS that trauma impacts the physical and mental health of those served by DHS professionals and that there is a need to better understand it. It also makes use of assessments to discuss traumatic events in a manner that is comfortable for all. The intent in participating in the collaborative, broadly speaking, fell into two categories: Exploring ways to support professionals in the field as they work to discuss traumatic experiences – domestic violence or repeated foster care placements, as examples --- and exploring how better to use the information gathered in common assessments to inform effective action plans for consumers. Called the Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC), the group was formed and led by partners in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, which was established by Congress in 2000 to improve the standard of care for children who have experienced trauma and to increase access to services. BSC leadership included faculty from the Family Informed Trauma Treatment Center at the University of Maryland and the Center for Child Trauma Assessment and Service Planning. From February 2015 to December 2015, eight teams of professionals worked together in their examination of assessmentrelated issues, meeting either in person or via conference call. DHS’s team included Robin Orlando, integrated engagement practice and assessment manager, and Joseph Martin, systems integration specialist, of the department’s Integrated Programs unit; Lynn Bottoms, family interviewer with the Office of Data Analysis, Research and Evaluation (DARE); Roslynn Zielinski, supervisor, and Ashley Diulus, mental health service coordinator, of Human Service Administration Organization (HSAO); and Stephanie Robinson, Youth Support Partner (YSP) Unit coordinator. The Systems Integration unit is overseen by Pat Valentine, Executive Deputy Director of Integrated Programs. For Allegheny County, work as part of the collaborative primarily revolved around use of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool and the Family Support and Advocacy Tool (FAST) to improve:
Knowledge and competence in trauma assessment Screening, assessment and planning processes Engagement and partnerships with youth and families Collaboration among providers in various human service streams
Joseph said that looking at the tools’ ability to harness details of trauma for solutions included finding ways to help professionals broach the subject of trauma. “How do we have a conversation with someone about sensitive topics or painful topics in a way that is appropriate for our role and ‘safe’ for that person’s emotions? And how do we do that in a way that will ultimately benefit that person with appropriate supports because we understand better where that person is coming from?” he said. In the Breakthrough Collaborative, many tests of strategies were carried out. With the Allegheny County team, for example, HSAO supervisors were asked to inquire of front-line workers after an assessment
that revealed trauma, “What about this was surprising to you? And if you could change anything about what is happening here, what would it be?� The purpose was to help workers reflect on the information gathered and how it might be relevant to their planning process, and to see where issues might appear that supervisors may have to address, such as any emotional impact on the worker. DHS tracked work at HSAO several times during participation in the collaboration to see if the rate of assessment use increased. Also tracked were family and individual reactions to assessments to see if they believed the assessments helped in their understanding of needs and strengths and in developing a plan. Both assessment use and families’ reported satisfaction increased, Joe said. Getting families and youth more involved in the assessment and planning process, in fact, was also a key goal of participating in the collaborative. As the collaborative moved forward, DHS developed a Think Tank that brought in more representation, and thus viewpoints, from various DHS offices and providers. The Think Tank continues to examine needs, challenges, resources and more to ensure that trauma-informed care is integrated in daily practice. Currently, the DHS Systems Integration team is distributing a tip sheet for those who use common assessments on how they might broach trauma-related conversations; working to ensure that those being trained and certified in giving assessments understand why they are used and are important; and developing a repository of resources and information that ultimately will be posted on the DHS website.
Computer security and privacy tips: Flash drives In conjunction with the Office of Administrative and Information Management Services (AIMS), the DHS News is offering tips for using your computer safely and securely. DHS employees and contracted personnel are required to adhere to laws and regulations regarding confidentiality and Protected Health Information (PHI). These tips are designed to enhance knowledge on avoiding use that could compromise data. If you have additional questions, contact the DHS Service Desk at 412-350-4357, option 2.
Flash drives USB flash drives, or memory sticks, are data storage devices for your computer that are typically removable and rewritable. The small size of the device makes it highly portable – but also creates a concern for data security. A recent study by the Ponemon Institute revealed that while these devices may be small, the data breaches that can result from lost or stolen USBs are huge. Organizations and employees need to properly manage the security and privacy requirements of data retained on USB drives. Refrain from transporting sensitive data such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Protected Health Information (PHI) on to an un-encrypted USB drive If you have a valid or compelling business reason to transport sensitive data to a USB drive, first consult with your supervisor or manager for his or her approval Never share or use USB drives that are not issued by your organization to reduce malware infection risks USB flash drives can be used safely and securely if the risks are understood and proper measures are taken to mitigate them One option is for attackers to use your USB drive to infect other computers. An attacker might infect a computer with malicious code, or malware, which can detect when a USB drive is plugged into a computer. The malware then downloads malicious code onto the drive. When the USB drive is plugged into another computer, the malware infects that computer. Some attackers have also targeted electronic devices directly, infecting items such as electronic picture frames and USB drives during production. When people buy the infected products and plug them into their computers, malware is installed on their computers. If you have additional questions, contact the DHS Service Desk at 412-350-4357, option 2. See more at https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST08-001