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Need Management

 
NeedConnect is used to identify users with needs and users who can help provide assistance. Needs can be assigned by staff via the Platform or claimed by approved Providers on the Connect Board. See the Quick Start for how to get started.
 
Promoting NeedConnect
Each church can promote NeedConnect however they see fit. Some tips and ideas to get started include:
  • Email the Connect Form link to existing, active volunteers first to seed a pool of Providers ready to help.
  • Email the Connect Form link to all Contacts over 65 to encouraging them to make requests for help.
  • Email the Connect Form link to all active Small Group Leaders and Members to accept both requests for help and offers to help for a smaller scale start.
  • Email the Connect Form link to all active Contacts in your database to accept both requests for help and offers to help when you're ready to manage a larger scale.
  • Link the Connect Form on your website home page, COVID update page, or RSS Feed.
  • Promote "from the stage" during any streaming services or recorded messages to your community.
  • Share the Connect Form link with local partner organizations to extend this service of your church into your community.
Managing Needs

Staff can manage Need Campaigns from the Platform. Staff will need to (required for NeedConnect to function as designed):

Staff can also (optional):

  • If staff is also helping fulfill needs for the current Campaign, create and approve other staff as Need Type Providers.
  • Review Unassigned, Aging, and Outstanding Needs to ensure there are sufficient Providers and Provider engagement for the current level of Needs. Supporting Views provided on the Needs page.
  • Assign Needs to approved Providers (see below).
  • Determine, execute, and review post-completion Need follow up (e.g. qualitative feedback survey). Tip: Create a Custom View and Message Template, then, use an Item Notification.
Need Fields
  • Requester Contact: The Contact who has expressed a need for help. 
  • Postal_Code: Collected in Connect Form for use by Connect Board.
  • Need_Type_ID: Identifies which Need Type a Requester has expressed they need help with. 
  • Other_Need: Provides additional information if “Other” was selected in the Connect Form. 
  • Provider_ID: The Provider assigned to this Need. 
  • Date_Assigned: The date a Provider was assigned. 
  • Target_Date: Indicates a specific date on which this Need should be addressed. Not currently referenced by Need Connect. 
  • Complete: Indicates this Need has been completed. 
  • Notes: Additional information related to this Need.
  • Need_GUID: A unique identifier assigned to this Need.
"Other Type" Needs (Required)

Needs that are requested with a Type of "Other" (write in, not selected from pre-defined Need Types) must be manually assigned to a Provider as they will not appear on the Connect Board to be claimed.

  1. From the Needs page, choose the Review Unassigned - Other view.
  2. Review the Other Notes to determine if:
    • Is this help that is appropriate? (might need to close or follow up)
    • Is this really an existing Need Type? (need to change Need Type)
    • Is there a trend? (need a new Need Type)
  3. Click Edit.
  4. Assign the Need to the appropriate Provider.

  5. Click Save.

The Need will now show for the Provider on My Assignments with Need details and Contact information. We recommend sending an email to notify the Providers of their manual assignment to an issue.

  1. From your selection, choose Tools > New Message Tool.
  2. Select the desired email template Tip: Copy and modify the Provider Assignment Email Template removing the Need Connect generated tokens.
  3. Preview.
  4. Send.

See: Provider Approval

Manually Assign Needs (Optional)

Needs can be self-assigned ("claimed") from the Connect Board by approved Providers. However, to facilitate Need management, especially for time sensitive needs, staff might need to also manually assign Needs via the Platform.

  1. From the Needs page, choose the Review Unassigned - All view.
  2. Click Edit.
  3. Assign the Need to the appropriate Provider.
  4. Enter today's date as the Date Assigned.
  5. Click Save.

We recommend sending an email to notify the Providers of their manual assignment to an issue. 

  1. From your selection, choose Tools > New Message Tool.
  2. Select the desired email template Tip: Copy and modify the Provider Assignment Email Template removing the Need Connect generated tokens.
  3. Preview.
  4. Send.