How to check my outreach project's data quality?

Date Created: May 27, 2026

What this is

This article will guide you on what data checkers to use to review your project's data quality and how to address any issues or missing data. Missing or incorrect data elements misrepresent outcomes and cause reporting errors.

What you need to know

Follow these steps

For outreach projects, we recommend you use the following data checkers to review your data quality. For best results, also recommend you run the following data checkers in a certain order.

First Stop Data Checkers - The checkers in this folder are where you are going to want to start.

1. Run the Current Client Roster to confirm the right clients are enrolled in your project. If needed, you can exit clients from their enrollment within the data checker.
2. Next, run the Common Data Checker to find any missing common information for your clients. This includes data in your client's HMIS profile and one-time questions, such as disabling condition, prior residence, etc.
3. Next, the Assessment Data Checker will help you review additional data elements, such as  health insurance, income, etc.

Tip:  Since HMIS data quality does not begin until the Date of Engagement for outreach projects, you can use the Show Only Enrollments with a Date of Engagement button to filter you client list further.

Other Data Checkers - These data checkers can be used in any order.

1. Engagement & CLS - This checker allows you to review a client's last current living situation details and data of engagement. If needed you can add a date of engagement or a current living situation right from the data checker.
2. Service-Enrollment Linkage - For projects that record services, this checker shows a list of services that are not linked to an enrollment or linked to the wrong enrollment. If needed, you can update the enrollment linked to the service from the data checker.

Program Specific Data Checkers - The following data checkers are specific to a grant and it's program specific data elements. We recommend using these data checker after you have gone through the First Stop and Other Data Checkers above. If your project does not have any of the funding listed below you can ignore this section.

1. FHPAP - This checker looks for things like confirming the client hasn’t received a recent FHPAP payment, choosing a sub-funding type, and entering the client’s city. It also displays the number of services and the total financial assistance entered for the client.
2. PATH - This checker looks at date of engagement, PATH status, latest current living situation and any PATH services and referrals entered for the client. You can enter missing information and add services and referrals right from the data checker.