Capital IDEA Houston Adopts Smarter Workforce Development Software

Capital IDEA Houston turned to NewOrg to streamline operations and improve engagement after challenges with their previous system.

Capital IDEA Houston emerged from the organizing efforts of The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) as part of a nationwide initiative by the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) to revitalize democracy through substantial social and economic change. Launched in 2008, TMO's workforce strategy aimed to create a Labor Market Intermediary organization, leading to the formation of Capital IDEA Houston. This organization provides educational opportunities for Greater Houston residents, leading to living wage employment. Since becoming an independent 501(C)(3) nonprofit in 2015, Capital IDEA Houston has been a transformative force in the community, supported by entities like the NBA Foundation and Bank of America. It has been recognized by local leaders, including former Mayor Anise Parker. Their mission is to uplift low-income individuals by offering comprehensive education and training programs, enabling them to attain financially rewarding careers and contribute positively to their communities. They offer College Degree Programs that fully fund tuition, fees, and books, paired with case management and job placement support. Short-term training programs allow rapid upskilling with industry-recognized credentials, and the Career My Way initiative for young adults provides personalized mentorship and career exploration. 

Capital IDEA Houston's transition to NewOrg as their data management software came in response to challenges they faced with their previous system. Issues included online application processes that weren’t user-friendly for participants, costly support team inquiries, and limited admin role seats, which hampered their operations. NewOrg's robust functionality and responsive support system offered the improvements needed to streamline these processes, enhancing overall management and ensuring a smoother, more efficient service delivery to their clients and the broader community.

NewOrg's integration with Capital IDEA Houston has brought several enhancements to their operations:

• Case Management Workflow Notes: Provides Career Navigators with a centralized system to track new applicants and monitor services for existing clients. The system also supports file sharing and SMS messaging, helping staff stay connected with participants in real time.
• Recertification Portal: Offers participants a secure portal to complete their annual recertification. Once submitted, staff are automatically notified, ensuring compliance and efficiency during designated recertification periods.
• Application Portal: Allows new applicants to apply for the Signature CIH program by providing demographic details, reporting monthly expenses, and uploading supporting documents. The portal also manages registration for mandatory information sessions, which helps staff track attendance and schedule Guidance and Planning Sessions with Career Navigators.
• Participant Portal: Empowers participants to request services, report semester outcomes such as GPA and course load, complete a Career Questionnaire, and request emergency financial assistance when needed.
• Education Partner Coordination: Supports collaboration with local education and employer partners. An online webform enables potential partners to express interest, while staff use built-in tools to track outreach and events. Plans for a more robust partner portal are underway to expand functionality.
• Integrated Communications: Brings email, SMS, and internal messaging into one unified platform, enhancing efficiency and responsiveness for both staff and participants.
• Custom Grant Reports: Enables staff and partners to track grant timelines and generate detailed activity reports within specified periods, improving accountability and reporting accuracy.
  
  

About NewOrg Management System, Inc.

NewOrg Management System, Inc. has provided secure, cloud-based case and data management solutions to nonprofits and government agencies since 2006. Serving more than 50,000 users across the U.S. and Canada, NewOrg’s fully customizable platform supports case management, service tracking, grant compliance, volunteer coordination, and more—helping partners increase efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.

About Capital IDEA Houston

Jorge Galvan
Capital IDEA Houston
 2101 Crawford St., Suite 211,
Houston, TX 77002
(832)  280-5343
jgalvan@capitalideahouston.org

Media Contact

Sotiris Koutsoyannis
Marketing/Communication Specialist
NewOrg Management System, Inc.
866-843-2835 x3
newsroom@neworg.com