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CONNECTIONS

OCFS Intranet

Updated: April 8, 2022

CONNECTIONS move to VMWare and MFA (December 2020)

Beginning in January 2021, the CONNECTIONS move from the Citrix platform to VMWare will begin a phased rollout, expected to extend over two to three months. In addition, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be implemented, requiring use of an RSA token (hardware or software) when accessing CONNECTIONS from outside the state network. Below are instructional and informational documents to assist with this transition.

• VDI Best Practices for Accessing CONNECTIONS - July 21, 2021
• Turn off VMWare Autoconnect for CONNECTIONS - July 21, 2021
• ITS CTO-CONNECTIONS VDI Modifying CONNECTIONS Type: (Resolves some printing/connectivity issues) - July 8, 2021
• ITS CTO-Updating VMWare Horizon Client - June 8, 2021
• ITS CTO-Accessing CONNECTIONS from County VDI Desktop - June 8, 2021
• ITS CTO-Installing & Configuring VMWare Horizon Client - June 8, 2021
• Accessing CONNECTIONS via URL1 - March 2021
• Integrated Printing via CONNECTIONS URL - March 2021
• CONNECTIONS Build Bulletin: CONNECTIONS Citrix to VDI Regional Rollout Schedule - March 11, 2021
• ITS CTO-VMWare Horizon Client Resolution on IPAD - March 2021
• CONNECTIONS Screen Size Workarounds - April 2021
• Graceful CONX Log Off of VDI - January 2021
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Frequently Asked Questions - December 2020
• RSA Token Request - June 25, 2021
• FAQ: CONNECTIONS to VDI and MFA - March 23, 2021
• New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS): Working Remotely

CONNECTIONS Build 3 2020: AFCARS Changes and Other Enhancements (December 2020)

A new CONNECTIONS build deployed on Wednesday, December 9th, which includes enhancements in the following areas:

• English Language Proficiency
• Family Relationship Matrix
• Window-specific Help
• SCR Mandate Reporter Agency Search
• Disallowing Stage Progression by Secondary Workers
• On-Call Window
• AFCARS – Environment at Removal
• Placement – OSI Sensitive Cases
• Comments from Prior Placement Request
• “Do Not Recommend” FAD Homes
• Customized Placement Notifications
• Activities modifications

Please see the PowerPoint (link below) for details.

• CONNECTIONS Build 3 Enhancements - PowerPoint (December 2020)

Placement Module (2018-2020)

• Placement Build FAQs - August 2019
• Placement Module Quick Start Guides
  • Impact Analysis
  • Phase 1
  • Phase 2
• Placement Module Tip Sheets 2019-2020
  • Getting Ready to Search in the Placement Dashboard Window
  • Using an Exact Search
  • Entering Congregate Care Resource Characteristics
  • Getting Ready to Search in the Placement Dashboard Window
  • Initiating the Placement Request
• Placement Module Quick Tips
  • Completing a Placement Request
  • Searching for Resources and Sending Referrals
  • Placing a Child
  • Verifying a Placement
  • Closing or Withdrawing a Placement Request
  • Initiating a Request with "New Using"
  • Accepting or Declining a Referral
  • Entering Congregate Care Resource Characteristics
  • Using the Placement Module to Modify Activities Data
• Placement Module - Phase 3 Job-Aid (June 2023)
• Placement Module - Business Functions (October 2019)
• Placement Module - Email Notifications
• Placement Module ADMs
  • 19-OCFS-ADM-17
  • 18-OCFS-ADM-13
• Placement Module - The Placement Process Relay
• Placement Module - RIST PowerPoint
• Placement Readiness

Uploading Photos and Documents in CONNECTIONS

• Uploads Categories and Sub-Categories (Updated March 2022)
• Uploads Job-Aid

Vacancy Control Modernization (Summer 2017)

• Quick Start Guide - The Modernization of the Vacancy Control Windows in CONNECTIONS (July 2017)
• Impact Analysis - 2017 Vacancy Control Build in CONNECTIONS (June 2017)

Foster and Adoptive Record Summary (Winter/Spring 2017)

• Job Aid - The Modernization of the CONNECTIONS Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) Stage (March 2017)
• Impact Analysis - Foster and Adoptive Record Summary (FRS) (January 2017)

Intake Checklist, Foster Home Identification, and Foster Care Notifcation (Fall 2016)

• Quick Start Guide - The Intake Checklist, Foster Home Identification, and Foster Care Notifications Windows (December 2016)
• Readiness Checklist - Phase 2, Foster Home Identification and Foster Care Notification Windows
• Impact Analysis - New Intake Checklist, Foster Home Identification, and Foster Care Notification Windows that will Support the Identification and Notification of a Foster Home in CPS Intake, Investigation, and FAR Stages (October 2016)
• PowerPoint - Used by the Implementation Team to familiarize staff with the new windows, in PDF (October 2016)
• Letter from Acting Commissioner Sheila Poole to District Commissioners and Executive Directors (December 2016)

Family Services Stage Modernization - Phase 5 (Fall 2016)
Health Services Module

• Job Aid - Changes to the CONNECTIONS Family Services Stage (FSS), Phase 5 (August 2016)
• Impact Analysis - Health Services Module (August 2016)

Family Services Stage Modernization - Phase 4 (Spring 2016)
Family Assessment and Service Plan (FASP), Service Plan Review (SPR), and New Functionality to Support the Prevention of Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act

• Job Aid - Changes to the CONNECTIONS Family Services Stage (FSS), Phase 4 (May 2016)
• Impact Analysis - FASP, SPR, and New Functionality to Support the Prevention of Sex Trafficking and Strenghtening Families Act (April 2016)

State Education Data Window (January 2016)

• The State Education Data Window in CONNECTIONS - Quick Start Guide (Updated February 2016)

Sex Trafficking Screening Window (December 2015)

• The Sex Trafficking Screening Window in CONNECTIONS - Quick Start Guide (December 2015)
• Updates to the Permanency Hearing Report (December 2015)

Agency Access, Organizational Hierarchy, and Progress Notes (Fall 2015)

• Update on Ongoing Progress Note Issues Post-Implementation - Copy of Email/Documentation send to Field 10/30
• Agency Access and Organizational Hierarchy Tip Sheet (September 2015)
• Progress Notes Quick Start Guide (Updated October 2015)

Family Services Stage Modernization - Phase 2 (Summer 2015)

• Phase 2 - Education Module - Quick Start Guide (June 2015)

Family Services Stage Modernization - Phase 1 (Spring 2015)

• FSS Modernization - Phase 1 Impact Analysis (February 2015)
• FSS Modernization Phase 1 Implementation Readiness Checklist (April 2015)
• Quick Start Guide - Changes to the CONNECTIONS Family Services Stage (FSS) - Phase 1 (May 2015)
• The Modernized Bridges to Health (B2H) Windows in CONNECTIONS - Tip Sheet (May 2015)

Implemented Build Material

FSI Modernization (January 2015)

• FSI Build Job Aid (January 2015)
  • Getting to Know the Transformed Family Services Intake Stage in CONNECTIONS
• FSI Modernization Impact Analysis (December 31, 2014)
• Training Announcement: Changes to the FSI Stage in CONNECTIONS
  • Learning to Use the Transformed FSI (iLinc Training)

Activities Window Implementation (2014)

• Job Aid - Getting to Know the CONNECTIONS Activities Window (October 2014) Word Doc
• Job Aid - Getting to Know the CONNECTIONS Activities Window (October 2014) PDF
• Activities Window Security - CONNECTIONS Build Tip Sheet (October 2014)
• Practicing Activities Tasks - Training Application Guide (September 2014)
• Activities Window (CCRS) Readiness Checklist (September 2014)
• Activities Build Classroom Training - Course Announcement (August 2014)
• Getting to Know the CONNECTIONS Activities Window - Training Calendar (August 2014)
• Assign Maintain Activities Business Function Request Form
  • Background/Instructions
• Activities Window Impact Analysis (September 2014)

FAR Implementation (2014)

• Remaining FAR Statewide Conversion Schedule (Updated July 9, 2014)
• FAR Build Job Aid (March 2014)
• Investigation Stage Summary and Transformed Investigation Windows Job Aid (April 2014)
• FAR Impact Analysis (April 2014)
• CONNECTIONS Tip Sheet - FAR Conversion Scenarios (November 2013)
• FAR iLinc Training Announcement and Schedule (February 2014)

NYTD Implementation

• Letter to Commissioner & Executive Director (February 27, 2013)

Implementation Archive Page

Click here for Implementation Page archive information