Projects

PSI has an expert understanding  of the technical processes, procedures, database schema, as well as proven experience developing form templates, creating and implementing notices for many state and federal government modernization projects.

PSI – MAXIS (State of Minnesota)

MAXIS – Cash and SNAP Eligibility System

Time Period: March 1989 to December 1998

Staff Count: PSI had 17 different staff working on the project

Programming Solutions, Inc., was founded to provide technical expertise for the development of the Minnesota cash and SNAP eligibility determination and benefit issuance automated system known as MAXIS.  In the development of MAXIS, PSI was the sub-contractor responsible for the analysis, design, and development of all functions required to determine the eligibility of applicants for the SNAP program.

The functions to support eligibility included the creation of eligibility and approval database tables that would track the results of person and case tests based upon the eligibility criteria. PSI staff were key in the development of the eligibility and approval process, which also resulted in the creation of notices to clients using the notice codes and tokens processing.

PSI staff are experts in understanding the notice generation processing for MAXIS.

Months into the project, the State of Minnesota decided to incorporate central issuance of benefits into the MAXIS project.  In a shortened timeframe, a completely new financial sub-system had to be developed to meet the new requirements.  Because of PSI’s success with the SNAP eligibility process, it was selected to lead the development team for the financial sub-system of MAXIS.

This MAXIS sub-system included:

  • SNAP issuance (over the counter and mailed using stuffing machine technology).
  • Check issuance (both from a central site and the state’s 87 counties using remote printers).
  • Claims processing for overpayments (which included claims collections and demand notices)
  • SNAP exceptions processing.
  • Check exception processing (cancelled, stopped, and replaced checks).
  • Check reconciliation.
  • SNAP federal accountability reporting (FNS required reports).

Cash financial reporting.

PSI – CARIBS (Territory of the US Virgin Islands)

CARIBS System

Time Period: July 2000 to Present

Staff Count: PSI had 22 different staff working on the project

PSI is the prime contractor selected by the GVI, Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide maintenance, operational support and enhancement for its computerized welfare system, known as CARIBS. CARIBS is a clone of the State of Minnesota system known as MAXIS. The application is a large-scale, interactive, client/server, eligibility benefit issuance and claims system that provides automated program support at the territory and local office level. It automates the functions of:
• Client registration
• Application entry
• Eligibility determination
• Benefit calculation
• Benefit issuance
• Notice creation
• Management reporting
• Claims processing
• Interfaces with Local and Federal agencies

The programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Adult Cash Programs, General Assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The total caseload supported by the application is 16,233 cases, servicing 32,318 persons.

PSI provides operational support for three processing sites in the cities of Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas and Christiansted and Frederiksted on the island of St. Croix. Each processing site uses a UNIX server running the AIX operating system. PSI maintains the CARIBS application, which has 4,835 Natural objects and over 1 million lines of code. ADABAS is the database management system used.

PSI is responsible for the scheduling and creation of the various batch cycles. This responsibility also includes monitoring the execution of the batch cycles. This work involves accessing the system during off-hours, which include evenings, weekends and holidays. PSI coordinates the scheduling of the batch cycles with DHS staff. PSI creates, modifies and maintains the UNIX scripts and has added error-detection and reporting functions within the scripts to ensure that PSI can properly support their execution. PSI coordinates all software releases, including emergency implementations.

PSI works with DHS program administrators to identify, schedule and make policy related changes. These changes are a result of Federal and local modifications to the TANF, SNAP and cash programs. PSI analyzes the policy requirements and designs the necessary changes to CARIBS. PSI reviews these changes with DHS program administrators to solicit their input. Once approval has been given, PSI makes the appropriate software changes, performs unit testing, trains the help desk on the modifications, develops an implementation schedule and migrates the software changes to the production environments. The changes to the policy often require changes to notice processing.

Over the past 20 years, PSI has enhanced the system by modifying existing code as well as developing new functions including:

• Medicaid Expansion
• Electronic Benefit Transfer of SNAP Benefits
• Interfaces with the Department of Health (VIMS)
• Interfaces with Paternity
• TANF time-limit changes
• TANF active, closed and aggregate interface
• Interfaces with SSA
• Interfaces with TOPS
• Cash benefit bonuses and increases
• Incorporation of the JOBS program
• Department of Labor (IEVS) interface
• New Directory for New Hires (NDNH) interface (New Hire interface)
• EDRS interface
• Appointment Scheduling
• Simplified Reporting for SNAP (Categorically Eligible cases)
• Policy changes for the economic stimulus bill – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

PSI – AEM Project Management (State of Minnesota)

ADOBE Experience Manager Project Management

Time Period: September 2018 to May 2019

Staff Count: 1

The PSI Project Manager, managed the AEM project with the overall objective of finalizing the AEM environment to fully utilize the AEM tools purchased by DHS.  This includes:

  • Configuring the environment for consistent, modular use across the agency.
  • Putting work processes in place so that DHS program areas can request work and MN IT can easily create solutions using AEM.
  • Putting controls in place so that AEM electronic data capturing and sharing are generated and used effectively across the organization.

The PSI Project Manager, also assisted in determining the overall vision for the AEM project team including:

  • Soliciting feedback from business SMEs about the Pilot experiences with AEM (Office of Inspector General, Behavioral Health Homes & Testing Experience and Functional Tools)
  • Working with business areas to determine the long-term vision for DHS systems modernization and where AEM fits into that plan
  • Using county and internal DHS surveys to identify current forms use and future needs
  • Developing Standards for:
    • Forms development (the use of smart forms, forms layout, guidelines for use)
    • Process flows and steps for Business Analysts, Developers and Quality Assurance to follow
    • Establishing priorities for forms development
  • Develop a strategy to determine when AEM forms are the appropriate solution (versus Cúram forms or other products)

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