Version 3.0 – May 2025

HIFIS Comprehensive Training Course

A self-paced program covering HIFIS modules for core workflows and role-specific tasks. Learn to enter client records, manage services, complete assessments, and work through reporting tools at your own pace.

📚 Core + extended modules (by account type)
🎬 Video lessons per module
Knowledge Checks
🏆 Final Assessment
Course Progress
0%
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About This Course
Who this course is for and what you'll learn

Course Overview

This course is for front-line workers, caseworkers, shelter staff, and administrators who use HIFIS. It is modified for your role, so you may see different HIFIS modules depending on your training path.

Start with Module 0 for the course introduction, then begin your first module and continue through the modules shown for your account type.

Each module includes step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and a video lesson placeholder. Some modules are optional, and you may not have access to every feature covered in those modules depending on your role.

Learning Objectives

  • Navigate the HIFIS interface and locate modules
  • Create and manage client records accurately
  • Record admissions, services, and case management activities
  • Document housing placements, diversion, and loss prevention
  • Complete SPDAT and VAT assessments (when included in your training path)
  • Use reporting and communications tools (when included in your training path)
  • Understand coordinated access and the Unique Identifier List

Course Modules

0
Welcome & Introduction
Start here
Learn about the HIFIS Toolkit, the purpose of the system, and how to navigate this training course.
1
Getting Started with HIFIS
Logging in, navigation, and account setup
Log in and out of HIFIS, switch service providers, understand common icons, and manage your user account.
2
Outreach & Community
Encampments, coordinated access, incidents
Track encampment enumerations, manage outreach activities on a map (not currently used in Thunder Bay), work with the Coordinated Access Unique Identifier List, and record incidents and conflicts.
3
Client Information
Creating and managing client profiles
Create client records, record demographics, consent, housing history, financial profiles, health information, and more.
4
Admissions & Shelter Operations
Book-ins, chores, storage, turn aways
Manage shelter stays with book-in and book-out procedures, assign chores, log storage items, manage medication dispensing, and record turn aways.
5
Case Management
Cases, appointments, calls & visits, surveys
Open and manage case files, schedule and track appointments, log calls and visits, and complete client surveys.
6
Services & Programs
Goods, services, food banks, group activities
Record goods and services provided to clients, food bank transactions, group activities, and manage service restrictions.
7
Housing Modules
Diversion, placements, loss prevention, units
Record diversion attempts, manage housing placements from search to move-in, prevent housing loss with follow-ups and subsidies, and maintain housing unit records.
8
Assessments
SPDAT, VI-SPDAT, and VAT
Complete VI-SPDAT and SPDAT assessments for individuals, families, and youth, and administer the Vulnerability Assessment Tool (VAT).
9
Communications & Tools
Messaging, bulletins, people, reports, PiT Count
Send messages and broadcasts, manage bulletins, maintain the People and Directory of Services records, run reports, and understand the Point-in-Time Count module.
10
Administration
Users, programs, rooms, custom tables, data export
Manage system users and access rights, configure rooms and beds, create programs and questionnaires, merge duplicate clients, and export data.
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Course Resources
Reference documents and quick guides

Thunder Bay portals, LSPC support, and national HIFIS references. External sites open in a new tab.

Thunder Bay & LSPC

Production HIFIS login, local updates, and training support from the Lakehead Social Planning Council.

Official documentation

National materials (HIFIS User Guide v3.0, May 2025). Thunder Bay consent forms are supplied locally — request from support or your supervisor (valid two years from signing).

CHAT & workflows

Thunder Bay CHAT checklists and internal workflow diagrams (request from support if needed). Coordinated Access resources from the national Learning Hub.